Obituary of Kevin Scott Mark

March 16, 1965 – Yorkton, Saskatchewan

February 11, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

Kevin Mark, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the age of 57 years.

Kevin was born in Yorkton, SK on March 16, 1965. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Engineering. He worked at Transalta for twelve and half years and Enmax for twelve and a half years too.

He was a member of Toastmasters International, APEGA and volunteered with several organizations devoted to enriching the lives of those living with disabilities.

Anyone who met Kevin knows that one of his greatest accomplishments was defying the expectations associated with long term disability. Other people might have despaired at becoming a quadriplegic at the age of sixteen, but not Kevin. He was determined to experience the best of life: travelling the world, building a career, and raising a family with Alison and their son, Lars.

He also wanted to share his experience with anyone who could benefit from his story. Kevin qualified for the finals of the Toastmasters International public speaking competition in 2011 after several rounds of intense competition. He wheeled onstage to address a full auditorium about the importance of asking for and receiving help. Kevin firmly believed that help was a gift, and that relying on others is not a weakness but an opportunity to elevate one another through kindness and care. The richness of Kevin's life is a testament not only to his grit and strength, but also his humility and grace.

Kevin loved recognizing and celebrating the moments that make life special. He would have the perfect card for a holiday, would swoop in to make the dinner reservation for a family gathering, and knew exactly what cake to order for your birthday. He wanted to make the people in his life feel special.

Kevin was a keen sports fan, and you would often see him at the rink or the field cheering for the Flames, the Hitmen, and his beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders. In his retirement, he decided to work through his bucket list: learning Spanish, going on a helicopter tour around Maui, and dogsledding in the Rocky Mountains. He was a formidable card player, a hot sauce connoisseur, and would always drop a breathtakingly funny joke when you least expected it.

Kevin travelled widely during his life: from road trips to the Grand Canyon to laps of the Vancouver Seawall, cruising around Scandinavia and snacking through Spain, Kevin always looked forward to the next adventure. He particularly enjoyed trips to tropical locations, where he could stretch out in the sun with a book and listen to the waves.

A quote that particularly reminds us of Kevin is this “Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence." - Lu Xun”.

He will be most remembered for being the best person you could hope to know.

Besides his loving wife, Alison, Kevin is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Lars Hedlund and Ellie Zygmunt of Calgary, AB, his brothers and sisters-in-law, and nieces, Brian and Roxanne Frey, and Amelia of Saskatoon, SK, and Brett and Gail, and Juliana of Airdrie, AB; and his parents Angie and Willie of Crystal Lake, SK.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church (7 Sunmills Green S.E., Calgary, AB) on  Friday, February 17, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow at the church. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.  If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Calgary Health Foundation, Complex Care Hub, Suite 800, 11012 Macleod Trail S.E., Calgary, AB T2J 6A5, Telephone: (403)943-0615, www.thetrust.ca.

Thank you to the Complex Care Hub for providing Kevin with the support that allowed him to spend more time at home than he otherwise would. Many doctors cared for Kevin over the years: thank you to all of them for treating him with skill and compassion. Finally, thank you to all of the friends and family who showed up to help and celebrate Kevin.

In living memory of Kevin Mark, 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.