Obituary of Leslie Charles MANNING

October 20, 1944 - Provost, Alberta
February 20, 2020 - Calgary, Alberta

Leslie “Les” Manning beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in Calgary on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the age of 75 years.

Les was born in Provost, AB on October 20, 1944. He attended school in Cadogan, AB and after showing promise; his art teacher encouraged him to pursue his talents at Alberta College of Art. After his acceptance, Les moved to Calgary to attend ACA at the age of 17. He graduated in 1966 with a degree in Ceramic Arts. Les married Sylvia Dionne in 1967 and moved to Canmore in 1971 to work at the Banff School of Fine Arts. Here, he was able to lay the foundation of his own career, as well as build a world-renowned artist in residence program, influencing generations of young artists until his departure in 1995.  Les considered himself the luckiest man, as he worked and lived his passion teaching ceramics for fifty years. As a boy who loved geography and mysterious cultures, he never predicted that he would one day travel the world teaching in over sixty countries. He was also instrumental in the creation of another internationally recognized artist in residence program at Medalta in Medicine Hat. His awards and accomplishments are many, most significant, being named a member of the Order of Canada in 2011 and awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Les will be most remembered for his exterior Cowboy spirit and his interior artistic brilliance. He was a kind generous man and a true philanthropist. Les also leaves a legacy with his children and grandchildren who have carried on his passion and life values of travel, culture, education, and love of nature and art.

Les is survived by his two children, Tara (Mark) Leeder and Cory (Melanie) Manning; and his grandchildren, Brooke and Jonathan (Brittany) Leeder, and Dylan and Cristian Manning.  He is also survived by his twin-brother Lyle, brother David, sister Gwen, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and close family friend Corey Houston. Les was predeceased by his parents, Dennis and Phyllis Manning, brother Frank, and sister Pat Goddard.

Funeral Services will be held at RockPointe Church - Bearspaw (255024 Lochend Road, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.  Reception to follow in the RockPointe foyer. There will also be an Art Exhibition and Memorial for Les in Medicine Hat, AB, in the spring/summer at Medalta (TBA). Memorial tributes in Les’ honor may be made to www.medalta.org. 

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Les’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Les Manning, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Eastside, 5388 MEMORIAL DRIVE NE, Calgary, AB, T2A 3V9, Telephone: 403- 248-8585.