Obituary of Evan Carl BIRCHARD

October 26, 1949 –   Lyndsay,Ontario   
September 16, 2020 - Calgary, Alberta   

It is with sadness we announce the passing of Evan Birchard on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at the age of 70 years, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Evan was raised on a family farm near Oakwood Ontario, attended a one room Quaker school near the farm then on to Lindsay for high school. Upon graduating from the University of Guelph in 1971 Evan joined Imperial Oil at the head office in Toronto, ON, initiating a career in environmental matters related to oil and gas, which would span nearly fifty years. His career took him to some of the world’s most beautiful and interesting countries. He loved what he did for a living, it was never work.

Evan worked primarily on Arctic matters related to the Beaufort Sea exploration; Mackenzie Delta Gas and the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline. He was also involved in Exxon’s response efforts during the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

In 1994 he was seconded to work on Exxons Sakhalin – a joint venture project in Russia’s Sea of Okhotsk for two and half years before moving to Moscow in 1997 to help guide the project through the Russian regulatory process. In 2001 Evan returned to Calgary to continue work on the Canadian projects and initiatives.

He took his pension in 2004 and started an environmental consulting business, continuing to provide his years of Arctic expertise to Imperial Oil as well as working collaboratively on other projects until his passing.

Evan had some hobbies. We were very involved with amateur skiing at Nakiska. He was also very involved in the ladies downhill events in the 1988 Olympics. He was very content at the cabin we built on Buffalo Lake. Golfing was his summer sport and he totally enjoyed his golfing buddies at the Rivers Edge Golf Course.

Besides his wife of forty-nine years, Ann (nee Cyr), Evan is survived by his sons, Christopher and Matthew; the mother of his grandchildren, Tanya Pare Birchard; and the absolute loves of his life, his grandson Kaden and granddaughter Avery, they truly were his pride and joy. 

Evan is also survived by his two brothers and sisters-in-law, Clark and Diane and Dave and Sandra; sister Lynne Birchard Stoddard and brother-in-law Malcom; as well as many nieces, and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father Carl and his mother Jean.

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

Thank you to Dr. JD Reuther and Dr. Adam Fundytus as well as the staff at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.

In living memory of Evan Birchard, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.