Obituary of Vincent Allen BRIGGS

July 13, 1930 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
March 20, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Vincent Allen (Al) Briggs, of Calgary, Alberta, born July 13, 1930, died March 20, 2020 at 89 years after a lengthy illness.

Born to the late Walter and Vera Briggs, July 13, 1930, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Dad graduated from the University of Saskatchewan (BComm) in 1952. He moved to Edmonton, gaining employment with the Hudson’s Bay Company, where he met Lois Buchan; they were married September 14, 1955, and resided in Edmonton until moving to Vancouver in 1964. While living in BC, Dad held the position of General Merchandise Manager for all BC Interior stores. He and Mum started a family, adopting two boys, and enjoying west coast life. In 1971, he was transferred to Calgary, working at the downtown store, and eventually becoming Operations Manager for Alberta.

After leaving The Bay in 1986, Dad worked as General Manager for the Better Business Bureau of Calgary/Southern Alberta, being directly involved with the introduction of the Mediation Program in Calgary’s Civil Court and working closely with Consumer & Corporate Affairs. His final years of employment were with the Auctioneers Association of Canada, promoting auction business and grievance resolution between consumers and business.

Dad left his stamp as a volunteer on several worthy charities and associations; but none more close to his heart than as joint founder of the Calgary Scout Foundation, having been involved as a leader, director, and President for the Scouting movement in Canada and Alberta/Saskatchewan for more than seventy years.

Dad was a generous and kind hearted man; practical, sensible, and deeply respected by family, friends and colleagues alike. Memories of summer vacations at Emma Lake are remembered fondly by my brother and cousins, teaching us the privilege of lake time with family and being outdoors. In his later years, travelling to Alaska, Christmases in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary were important to Dad, spending time with his two sisters and sons. He was generous with his time, and always had the right tool that was needed for the job. His humanity and loyalty to his friends, counsel, strength and wisdom to everyone who knew him, will be sorely missed.

Dad is predeceased by his wife Lois Briggs, and survived by his two sons, Robert Allen (Rob) Briggs (Calgary, AB) and Sandy Briggs (Richmond, BC); his two sisters, Alice Briggs (Toronto, ON) and Janice Routley (Regina, SK); and many other family and friends.

My deepest gratitude to both Susan Bish, a long-time family friend to Mum and Dad, and especially to my brother Rob for stepping in to help Dad these last several months. Thank you both for being there when Dad needed you most.

A private family memorial service and Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Al’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the A.L.S. Society of Alberta (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), 7874 – 10th Street N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 8W1, www.alsab.ca (or your home province), or to a worthy charity of your choice.

Thank you to the palliative care team from Alberta Health Services & the Rocky View Hospital.

In living memory of Al Briggs, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W., Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.