Rick Crosby

Brewster Sightseeing driver Rick Crosby has a story for every stop on his tours.

At Deer Lodge, where the tour stops, Rick's roots run deep. His grandparents founded the lodge in 1923 and Rick spent much of his youth working here with his family, doing everything from bus boy to pot washer, and exploring all the nearby peaks as a climber and skier.

"Really, I was there to climb mountains," he says of his youth.

Rick was born in Banff to a predominate local family. His grandmother Gertrude Crosby founded the lodge in 1923, growing it from a tea house to a sprawling complex that once included a gas station, drugstore, café and garage. His grandfather Lou Crosby was a legendary Banff figure who ran Brewster Travel for many decades. "I've climbed 'em all,

fallen off some and skied most," he says of the alpine peaks around Lake Louise.

A true "Banffite" (or is it "Banffonian"?), his stories are rich with personal memories. Exploring the heart of the Canadian Rockies with him is enriching and entertaining in a personal way.

For Rick, driving and welcoming visitors to the Canadian Rockies is the culmination of a life well lived here. He loves to travel during the winter, but he says the times he has spent at Lake Louise remain his favourite. He often said his career driving tour buses for Brewster in Banff was a "paid hobby" that he thoroughly enjoyed.

"I like interacting with people, especially here," he says. "I have always loved the Bow Valley."

Rick was also a successful seaman, skippering chartered sailboats throughout Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. He then became an entrepreneur in Nova Scotia where he ran two Sears dealerships, and finished off his career driving tour buses for Brewster in Banff.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents Rob and Ev Crosby, and his sister Heather Crosby. He is survived by his sister Anita Battrum, his son Todd Hewitt, his daughter Ginny-Lou Crosby, his grandchildren Broddie and Kemp Hewitt, nieces and nephews Greg, Amanda, Justin, Lisa, and Nick and his cousin, Janice McGregor .

The planned Celebration of Life has been postponed until, hopefully, later this summer. Please continue watching for further updates

Donations in his memory can be made to the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.