Edmour Gilbert L’Arrivee passed away peacefully on July 28, 2016 at the age of 100 years. He was born in Bainville Montana February 13, 1916, the fifth of eight children of Oscar and Clarinda L’Arrivee. The family returned to Canada in 1928 and took up farming north east of Arborfield. Edmour attended Addingtion School but after only a few years, took up farming with his dad and working in the bush in the winter.
Enroute to the Calgary Stampede via motorcycle with his friend Ray Robertson in July 1941, they had five flat tires so they decided to enlist in the army. Edmour spent some time at Camp Borden training as a wireless operator with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse regiment and was then sent overseas for more training in England. As part of the armoured tank regiment, he then saw action in Africa, Italy, France, Belgium and the Liberation of the Netherlands. He was discharged in January 1946.
In the summer of 1946, he bought the home quarter NE 14-48-10 and proceeded to clear the land and set up a homestead. He farmed in the summer and continued to work in the bush in the winter.
On July 9, 1951, he married Jean Baillie. Now he had someone to help on the farm! Cows, pigs and chickens were added to the grain farming as well as working in the bush in the winter. This continued even after the children were born with children and animals all making the move to the bush for the winter. By the time the children were in school, Edmour stayed in the bush for the winter and Jean stayed at the farm and looked after the children and farm animals.
In the early 1970’s, he had another opportunity for sawmill life when he worked with Sandy Stevenson and the DNS to set up sawmills in some of the First Nation communities of northern Saskatchewan.
Edmour was a willing volunteer and worked with the local 4-H horse club, St Lucy’s Roman Catholic parish as well as various committees/boards. He served as a councillor for the RM of Arborfield from 1972 – 1984 and then as Reeve from 1984-1986. He was also a long time member and volunteer with the Royal Canadian Legion, receiving his 70 year pin at the Remembrance Day service in 2015.
He was also the go- to man in the neighbourhood using his skills as a mechanic, welder, woodworker to fix or build farm equipment.
In the early 1980’s, prior to applying for his OAS, he found out he wasn’t a Canadian citizen. He had served with the Canadian military for five years and paid his taxes for many years assuming that because his parents were Canadian citizens, he was a Canadian citizen, even though he was born in the US.
In 1990, he had the opportunity to return to the Netherlands to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Liberation. This was a time to celebrate with all his comrades and retell war stories.
In 2004 Edmour and Jean moved off the farm and into the “Circle” in Arborfield. They relocated to Pasquia Place in Carrot River in 2010 and to the Aborfield Special Care Lodge in 2012.
He was predeceased by his wife Jean in 2014. Left to cherish Edmour’s memory his children: Gilbert, Margaret, Louis (Jean) and Jo-Anne (Ron), his grandchildren: Chris, Tim (Anita and great granddaughter Abby), Ryan, Michael (Jamie and great grandson Oscar) and Aimee (Kris and great grandchildren Cate and Ellis). He is also survived by his youngest sister Lillian and numerous nieces and nephews, many who were with him to celebrate his 100th birthday in February.

Donations may be made to the
The Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund or
Arborfield Special Care Lodge, Arborfield, Sask.
as a token of remembrance

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