Brian Musgrove

Brian R. Musgrove, native son of Canmore, passed away gently at the Canmore Hospital at the age of 78 years. Brian will be dearly missed and remembered always by his loving wife, Pat, his son Grant Musgrove of Kelowna, his daughter Jodi and her husband Robert Taylor, and grandchildren Dillon Musgrove and Andrew Crocker all of Canmore. He is also survived by his nephew Brian Kim Michaluk of Calgary and niece Debbie Finley of Langley, as well as cousins Corrinne Kovacik of Banff, Blair Bloxham of Strathmore, and Lennie Antosko of St. Albert. He was also close to several second cousins who loved their "Uncle Brian".

Brian was predeceased by his parents, his sister Jacqueline Mitchaluk of Calgary and cousin Lorraine Fraser of Exshaw.

Born at home in Canmore to Harry Musgrove and his Italian mother, Lydia (Chiaverina) Musgrove, Brian was the first boy to be born into his extended Canmore family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Brian was well loved and lived an idyllic and adventurous childhood enjoying the mountains and outdoors. His love for horses, fishing and hunting started early.

Brian was the third generation of his family to work in the mines in Canmore. In addition to maternal grandfather, his paternal Grandfather was the Mine Manager and his father a Fire Boss. Never one to sit still he joined the RCMP. They accepted his application after deciding that they could safely ignore Brian's police record of raids on Canmore Gardens. After training in Regina, Brian served in Port Alberni, BC but he found that he was homesick for family and his beloved mountains so he returned to Alberta and joined the Calgary Police Service.

Soon after this, he met Pat L'Hirondelle at a dance in Banff. It was love at first sight and they were married on December 10, 1960. Together Brian and Pat lovingly raised Grant and Jodi in Calgary in the communities of Brentwood and Edgemont.

During Brian's time with the Calgary Police Service, he joined the motorcycle brigade, became a "TV star" on CFCN with the Calgary Safety Round Up, and worked with dogs in the K-9 Division. Also, because he was always one to seek adventure (and sometimes even danger), he joined the "drug squad" and wearing his cowboy hat and jeans worked undercover in Forest Lawn and Kensington.

Wanting more for his family Brian left the Calgary Police to join the Land Department of the City of Calgary. A personable and engaging man, who enjoyed and respected others Brian became a successful Landman. In 1979 he was promoted to become the Director of the Land and Housing Department, a position he enjoyably and successfully held until his retirement in 1993. Throughout his career he served under four colorful Mayors and worked on major procurement of land for the C-Train, the 88 Olympics, the East Village and Eau Claire. He also accompanied Mayor Al Duerr on a delegation to China.

At heart Brian was always a cowboy! He kept horses for almost all of his life, first in Canmore, then in Calgary in a pasture which subsequently became Northland Village Mall, and later on his quarter section at "the farm" south of Sundre in the Fallen Timber area. After his parents died he purchased a condo in Canmore to maintain his connection to his lifelong Canmore friends and the community.

Brian also never forgot his spirit of fun and adventure. Among other spare time activities he and Pat loved to ski. Brian was an avid, strong, and daring skier who volunteered as a ski patroller and more daringly, he even planted bombs for avalanche control. In the same spirit, he and a Canmore friend, chased and tamed wild horses in the Waiparous area. He also tracked animals and one day, when he had a broken ankle, he shot a grizzly bear! Brian did many dangerous things in his life but recently he indicated that the most dangerous was his undercover work with the CPS.

Five years after retiring Brian moved to Cochrane where he lived for 17 years but he and Pat spent the last months of his life back in Canmore where he could look out and reminisce in his beloved mountains.

The family thanks Dr. Andy Kirk and the wonderful staff at the Canmore Hospital as well as Canmore cousins, Cori Fraser, Karen Fraser and Ian Schofield for their care and support.

Funeral services for Brian took place on Saturday, November 14

at the Ralph Conner Memorial United Church on Main Street in Canmore, which was then followed by a reception at the Coast Hotel (511 Bow Valley Trail).

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, friends may wish to remember Brian by making a donation to the Bear Valley Horse Rescue (www.bearvalleyab.org), or to a charity that is meaningful

to you.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.