Obituary of Vernon Lloyd Aquart

April 11, 1934 – St. Mary Parish, Jamaica
August 16, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

On Monday, August 16, 2021, Vernon Lloyd Aquart, cherished husband, father and grandpa, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 87, embraced warmly by the love and presence of his family. 

Vernon was born on April 11, 1934 in St. Mary Parish, Jamaica to William and Brendoline (nee Moore) Aquart, one of eight children. 

Vernon earned a Fine Arts diploma from the School of Art & Craft in Kingston, Jamaica. This allowed him to work as a draftsperson and land surveyor in training with the Geological Survey Department of Jamaica before immigrating to Canada in 1969 where he continued his work as a draftsperson for TransCanada PipeLines, until his retirement. 

His true passion, however, was for literature and the arts, painting stunning pieces with deep historical and personal meaning, and tirelessly researching for and writing his two novels, the ‘Loop GastroSaloon’ and ‘Flecks’.

Vernon will be remembered most for his gentle, kind and playful nature, his boundless patience, love and generosity for his family, as well as for his unabashedly corny dad jokes which he spewed with regularity. Vernon, or Verno as his family liked to call him, was the type of dad and grandpa who would never say “no” to his kids and grandkids (so long as life and limb were not at risk). He would sit patiently while his young daughters would decorate his entire head of voluminous hair with barrettes and ribbons. He would let his preschool-aged granddaughters take the lead baking in the kitchen, tossing together whichever ingredients they saw fit, Vernon never flinching at the incredible mess. He would wake up early every morning to bring hot chocolate to his son who had to leave for school before dawn. He would take the time to skillfully sketch his kids’ faces on their paper lunch bags instead of simply writing their names. He didn’t hesitate to ride the kids’ toy spring horse, towel cape tied smartly around his neck, a fearless cowboy not to be reckoned with. Born and raised in Jamaica, Vernon often felt cold in Canada and his family would tease him for wearing his winter jacket inside the house. But this incompatibility with the cold didn’t stop him from forging knee-deep into the snow to help his kids build igloos and snow forts in the yard. Vernon demonstrated to his kids and grandkids how to be kind, empathetic, patient and, simply, good. He had a warm, ready, twinkly-eyed smile, and he wore it right until he welcomed eternal rest.

Vernon is survived by his wife Leigh, his children Etienne (Jamie), Tyson (Keri), Maia (Bryan), Alliyah (Adonis) and Travis; grandkids Ava, Siarra, Amara, Vaughn, Lincoln, Caius, Kestlin, Micah and Treyson; as well as his brothers, Errol and Robert, and sisters, Leslie and Pauline, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Vernon was predeceased by his father and mother, as well as by his son Christian (Tracey), brother Trevor, and sisters Mary and Jennifer.

Please feel no obligation to send gifts, but if you do feel so inclined, a donation to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), https://www.msf.org/donate, on Vernon’s behalf would be warmly received. Condolences, memories and photos may also be shared and viewed here.

As per Vernon’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. Instead, his family will celebrate his life, sharing anecdotes, laughs, hugs and groan-worthy jokes while enjoying a backyard Caribbean feast on his behalf. 

Cheers, Verno! We love you so much.

In living memory of Vernon Aquart, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.