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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
JORDAN, Robert Peter - passed away at the age of 96 in Qualicum Beach, BC, after living a long and remarkable life. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Elinor (Bunty); sons, Peter and Paul; and grandchildren, Nathan, Robbie, Rennie, and Nicolas. He was predeceased by his son, Michael in 2018. He will be missed by his friends who shared his enthusiasm for the great Canadian wilderness. Bob was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba, to parents Peter and Lillian Jordan, and was raised in Winnipeg as an only child. In 1941 he began studies in geology at the University of Manitoba, and spent his summers with the Geological Survey in the northern wilderness. This was the start of a lifetime love of outdoor adventures in Canada's north. His studies were interrupted by service in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943 to 1946. After graduating, Bob found his way to the Yukon, where he worked as a mine geologist. In Whitehorse, he spent his free time skiing to backwoods cabins, where he met his kindred soul Bunty. They were soon married in a log church in Whitehorse, and spent their honeymoon camping. The young couple moved further north to Keno Hill, where Bob worked for the next two years. Their first son Peter was born in nearby Mayo in 1949. Life in the remote subarctic was tough for the young family, so in 1951 they moved south to Vancouver Island, where twins Michael and Paul were born. In the mid 1950s, tiring of moving from one remote mining town to another, Bob made a career switch to the growing oil industry - Edmonton, Fort St John, and finally Dawson Creek, where he was a founding member of the ski club. The family led a more or less settled life until 1968, when we moved again to Alberta. With two geologist colleagues, Bob started a consulting exploration firm in Calgary. Bob and Bunty bought a property in rural Priddis in 1972, and built a house with a view of the Rockies - there they stayed until well into their 90s. With the kids grown up and moved away, Bob indulged his passion for outdoor adventure. He and Bunty went on many Alpine Club of Canada mountaineering and backcountry ski trips, and Bob served on the Sunshine Village ski patrol. He was part of the "Grizzly Group" of southern Alberta mountaineers, with whom he climbed in the Rockies, and went on canoe expeditions to northern rivers - the Stikine, Nahanni, Horton, Big Salmon, and Thomsen, amongst others. After retirement in 1988, he wasn't content to let the grass grow under his feet, so he bicycled across Canada over three summers and the following year, bicycled the Dempster Highway to Inuvik. Bob was a ham radio enthusiast for his whole adult life: first VE7EV, and later VE6CS in Alberta. His radio expertise was put to use following the 1964 Alaska earthquake, when with phone links cut, amateur radio operators were the link between Alaska and the rest of the US. Eventually his knees wore out, but adventures continued, on the rivers of southern Alberta where he, Bunty and friends did several long canoe camping trips. In his later years life became slower, but his beloved dogs and grandkids occupied his time. When country life became too hard, he and Bunty moved to Vancouver and then to the Island - a difficult adjustment for them, but an opportunity to spend more time with their extended family. The family plans to hold a memorial service in Priddis, Alberta, later in 2021. (the Globe and Mail 17 Dec 2020)
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