GORDON CREELMAN LAIDLAW -

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GORDON CREELMAN LAIDLAW 1916 - 2004 It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Gordon Laidlaw on February 15, 2004. Gord iis survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Bette; children, Tannis (Mike) in the United Kingdom, Lindi (Sunny) in Vernon, Tom (Jan) in Calgary, Kirk n Vancouver, Lisa and Trish in Winnipeg; grandchildren, Tara (Dale), Eamon, Flint, Lianne, Joel (Karen), Laura, Amy, Travis, Maihanna, Tiffany, Andrew, Tia, Zac, Aleisha and Karlan; great-grandchildren, Brendan, Christy and Mythra. He will also be missed by his younger brother Alan, many "adopted" children and grandchildren and the rest of his large extended family. Dad grew up one of four boys in East Kildonan. He and his family spent many happy times in the Neepawa area visiting his grandmother and other family on their farms. He has shared with us stories of his childhood full of pranks and laughter. Dad met Mum through a youth church group. They were married in June, 1943 and had four children. They later adopted two more. Dad graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Sciences (Honours) majoring in Chemistry and Geology. He was elected a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada in 1955. He served many years on the Fort Garry School Board, as well as seven years on the Board of Governors at the University of Manitoba. He was a founding member of the Fort Garry Kiwanis Club with which he was involved for a number of years. He was an instrumental member of Reaching Out/Reaching Equality where he was a strong voice of advocacy for people with disabilities. Dad was the city chemist and was the owner/president of National Testing Labs for more than 35 years. He was often called upon to investigate and testify as an expert witness in fire cases. This was a job he enjoyed long past his official retirement. Recently he was a member of the Humanist Association of Manitoba. As a point of interest, our Dad had polio in 1917. This is only significant in the ways it did not interfere with his very active life. Mum and Dad travelled extensively throughout their marriage. Each of their children carry memories of car trips through North America. Some of their favourite destinations were the Redwood Forest, The Black Hills, Vancouver and the Cabot Trail. Later they travelled without their children to England, Hawaii and on numerous occasions, New Zealand. Each summer, Mum and Dad lived at their cottage in Minaki, ON. Dad worked hard there every day, fixing roofs, chopping wood, repairing docks, hiking, swimming, blueberry picking, going on three day canoe trips and loving every minute. Dads family was of ultimate importance to him. He would stop any activity to study a childs interesting bug, or unusual rock. We will remember having long philosophical discussions with Dad around the breakfast table or while he smoked his pipe in the evenings. Dad had a voracious appetite for knowledge. He read innumerable books to challenge long held beliefs. He would then share his thoughts with us and our worlds grew. Dad demanded our best; he encouraged us to look, question and reach beyond ourselves. He was only critical when we came up short for lack of effort. He loved us deeply and unconditionally. Dad rejoiced in our successes and supported us through our difficulties. He helped each of us develop a framework for a philosophy of living that will serve us throughout our lives. He approached his whole life with enthusiasm. He viewed difficulties as "challenges", bitterly cold weather as "invigorating" and life as an "exciting journey". His passing is the next leg of this journey. We will miss him more than we can say. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Victoria Hospital Emergency department, as well as Winnipeg Police Fire and Paramedic services for their care and support of our mother during this very scary and trying time. We would also like to extend a special thank-you to the people who stopped and helped our parents on Sunday afternoon. Our family will hold a private memorial service following cremation.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 21, 2004