Obituary of Peter Douglas Lane

November 7, 1955 - Toronto, Ontario

September 24, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

 

It is with profound sadness that Laura, David, Christopher and his wife, Danielle, share that Peter succumbed to cancer in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at the age of 68 years.

 

As he said hours before his death, he had so much more life to live and he wasn't ready to stop. The cancer that had been kept at bay for months had different ideas, reacting swiftly and suddenly.

 

Peter was born in Toronto ON, the youngest of Muriel and Ken Lane's four children. Peter developed his love of skiing at the Craigleith Ski Club in The Blue Mountains where his parents had a membership. (Mountains are an exaggeration, as David pointed out when at the “mountain”.)

 

Peter attended the University of Western Ontario with his cousin and best friend, Roy Vokes. Both Peter and Roy ventured into the world of banking. Ultimately they took diverging paths but never lost the close love of their friendship.

 

Soon the real mountains called his name and Peter boarded a Greyhound bus for Calgary, a city that became his home. In 1984 he met Laura, at Ranchman’s of all places(!), and they were married in Banff in 1988.

 

Peter worked at a sporting goods shop before leaving for Nakiska where he worked and enjoyed a firsthand view of the 1988 Olympics, an experience that left him with great friends and great memories.

 

Peter left Nakiska to join Ski Cellar Snowboard, ultimately becoming a partner and co-owner. Peter retired in 2019 but never stopped sharing his passion for skiing and knowledge of the industry with anyone who needed help making decisions about gear or equipment. 

 

Peter was an unbelievable skier who passed that passion and skill to his sons, Christopher and David. Laura often commented that watching the three of them ski was watching poetry in motion.

 

Just as the mountains and skiing were a source of happiness for Peter, so was the Lane family cottage on the Severn River in Ontario. Peter had wonderful summers there with Roy, and Flame Weir, from Pittsburgh, PA. Roy, Flame, and Peter shared that unbelievably rare friendship spanning over six decades. When they reconnected they would pick up where they'd left off, seemingly mid-sentence at times … with a new beer in hand mind you!

 

Peter was a great friend and a supportive and loyal partner. His greatest love was his family and he was incredibly proud of both Christopher and David. When Danielle joined the family his pride extended to her as well.

 

Peter is survived by his amazing sons, Christopher (Danielle) and David; his better half for 36 years, Laura; brothers John (Marg, and their daughters, Ashley and Brittany), and Jim (Anne, and their children, James and Katie); and sister Judy (Dave, and their children, Melanie, Jess, and Michael).

 

In the last two summers spent at the cottage, he enjoyed getting to know Katie's children, Ben and Brooke, his youngest niece and nephew. Whether it was early morning boat rides with Ben to the train bridge, or fishing off the dock with them, he enjoyed every moment. It was a dress rehearsal for the role of Grandfather that he hoped to take on one day.

 

Additionally, Peter leaves behind his Ski Cellar Snowboard family and scores of friends from the ski community, the YMCA, and the Severn River.

 

Waiting for him on the other side were his parents, Ken and Muriel. Our tears of sadness are matched by their tears of joy at seeing their youngest again. We know he was in good hands the very moment he let go of ours and this earthly world.

 

A Celebration of Peter's Life is planned for Wednesday October 30, 2024 at Venue 308 located at 110-308 11th Ave SE, Calgary.

 

Please join us between 3pm - 6pm, or any part of that time for sharing memories, reflections, and laughs. In keeping with Peter's wishes the gathering is casual and refreshments are planned.

 

The family asks that if you are attending that you please RSVP to yyc.lanes@gmail.com no later than Sunday October 20, 2024.

 

In honour of Peter's love of skiing and his respect for the inherent dangers that snow sometimes presents we would be honoured to have donations made to Avalanche Foundation Canada, Box 3191, Revelstoke, BC V0E, 2S0, Telephone: 403-678-1235, www.foundation.avalanche.ca or the Canadian Ski Patrol, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1H 7X7, Telephone: 613-822-2245, www.skipatrol.ca or alternatively, you may decide to support a cause of your choice.

 

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Peter’s family here.

 

In living memory of Peter Lane, 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.