Former BC MLA Art Charbonneau, 85, died in Nanaimo in late April after suffering a stroke.
Art served from 1991 to 1996 as the MLA for Kamloops. He served as Minister of Transport and Highways, Minister of Forests, Minister of Education, and Minister of Government Services and Sport.
Ever the pragmatist, after suffering a stroke, he mused that there was not much to be done and asked to go home, where he passed surrounded and very much loved by his family.
Art was born in Regina to Mary and George Charbonneau on Aug. 20th, 1939, the second youngest of eight siblings. He was cared for through early ill health by his older sisters, embarking on a boyhood fueled by a mix of curiosity, mischief and fierce intellect. Whether building and then testing model planes to the point of destruction, or debating religion with the unamused nuns at school, Art always questioned why things were as they were.
Art earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Alberta in 1961 and pursued further studies at the University of Minnesota's renowned St. Anthony Falls Hydraulic Laboratory, specializing in hydraulic model studies. Art returned to Edmonton in 1965 with a master's degree and as husband to Alice (nee Busch) Charbonneau.
Art and his business partner Dick Cooper founded Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd., establishing a lab in a modest warehouse bay where they built the company from the ground up into a world class consulting firm, always with a spirit of camaraderie and good humour.
In 1981, Art moved to Kamloops, where he consulted part-time. Art's passion for public service led him into politics in the late 1980s. In 1991, he was elected to the legislature.
Married for 58 years before Alice's death in 2023, Art and Alice raised two daughters and were doting grandparents to three grandchildren.
Their house was filled with Grampa's laughter and love of learning and Grandma's collection of books and toys, and their RV was always ready to go for a camping adventure. In later years, Art and Alice made their home in Nanaimo where Art enjoyed computers, gardening, amateur astronomy, crossword puzzles and card games.
Art is survived by two children, Lynne and Jennifer (Sean). He will always be in the hearts of his grandchildren Makenna, Ethan and Kristin.
– The Nanaimo News Bulletin