Letter to the Editor

Bud Abbott was a Cranbrook icon and a friend to many of us. It is great to see he will be honoured locally with a bench, in front of Studio Stage Door, that is both artistic and practical, qualities that Bud certainly had.

Bud’s place in Canada’s history is assured. On February 5, 2019 as your Member of Parliament at that time I made the following Statement in the House of Commons:

Wayne Stetski Kootenay—Columbia, BC

“Mr. Speaker, I want to share with members today the life of an amazing man.

“Bud Abbott was born on January 26, 1921. During his life, he was a British fighter pilot during World War II; a family man to his wife Linda, his children Louise, Christopher, Becky and Greg, and to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a Rotarian; a volunteer for mental health; the Salvation Army; Meals on Wheels; Heart and Stroke; reading with elementary school children; singing with seniors; and starring in community theatre. He was Cranbrook’s leading man for 59 years.

“What made Bud truly amazing was he did all of this up until just a few weeks before his 98th birthday, with an incredible memory for music, an insatiable desire to learn and a passion for theatre and for the people of Cranbrook. He was a community icon, a model for how to live our lives as seniors and a much-loved friend to many.

“Bud died on January 30. The city of Cranbrook, my riding of Kootenay—Columbia and, indeed, all of Canada have lost an amazing man.”

Every word said in Parliament is recorded in Hansard, and becomes part of a permanent record of Canada’s history. Bud deserved no less; whenever I think of him, he still makes me smile…

Thank you Bud!

Lead image: Paul Reimer, a local blacksmith and internationally acclaimed artist, and Cranbrook Community Theatre President, Peter Schalk, install Bud Abbott’s bench in front of the Studio Stage Door the day before the “Great Reveal on Saturday, September 10. Photo submitted

Wayne Stetski,

Cranbrook

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