Roger Collyer
Aug. 13, 1944 – Jan. 21, 2022
Roger Stephen Collyer passed away in the Calgary Foothills Hospital at the age of 77. He is preceded by his father and mother, Harold William and Lillian Teresa, and sister Jeanne Teresa. He is survived by his children, Spencer and his wife Claire, Tiffany, Tyler, and Justin, his two grandchildren Noah and C.J., his sister Mary Angela and her husband Maurice, and his brothers William David, and David John and his wife Sue. He leaves behind many other dear family and friends from around the world who loved him in places across Canada, England and New Zealand to name a few.
Roger was born in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, England. He moved to Canmore on July 3rd, 1973, where he would spend the next 49 years. He loved it here, always reminding us how lucky we were to live in such a beautiful place. Roger spent the next couple of years in a small apartment above CIBC next to the Canmore Hotel on Main Street, while building his first family home after work on evenings and weekends. He worked on construction projects as a general contractor and journeyman carpenter, the trade he studied for in the UK, bringing his unique set of skills, style, and modern contemporary architectural vision to the Bow Valley. He was a perfectionist and took incredible pride in his workmanship. Throughout his career, he worked on many projects at The Banff Springs Hotel and a multitude of buildings across Banff National Parks and the Bow Valley, including homes and commercial buildings in Canmore. Roger was incredibly dedicated and a very hard worker, always providing for his family.
Our dad was recognizable through his tall slim frame, his distinguished handlebar moustache, and thick British accent, along with his good sense of humour, quick wit, distinctive laugh, charisma, kindness and lively smile which will be remembered in countless stories and memories in all of us. He loved magic and loved to perform it on kids, such as the “finding coins behind their ears” trick. He made friends wherever he went, always striking up a conversation with the random and unsuspecting people he came across. He loved road trips, exploring and going on backroad adventures, spending time and cooking Sunday dinners with his family, a cold beer on a hot day, and dancing, especially learning how to dance Ceroc in his most recent years in New Zealand.
Roger also enjoyed classic cars, expressive art, traveling around the world, fishing, canoe trips down the Bow River, good movies, lively pubs (The Drake was one of his most frequented), building things and working with his hands, and getting a good deal with some good-natured haggling. He was very inquisitive about nature’s wonders and outer space, always wondering what else might be out there…You can bet that if you caught him driving in his little black smart car, he would be playing air guitar and listening to “Give Me Shelter” by The Rolling Stones or one of his favourite hits from the likes of Rod Stewart, Sam Smith, Michael Bolton, and Jann Arden.
But above all and before anything else, Roger loved his kids and was there for them whenever they needed him. He will be missed and loved, always and forever.
Cremation has taken place with a plan to have a Celebration of Life this summer. More information to come from the family.
“Appreciate life. Never give up. Laugh and cry. Love one another. I loved you all.”
Roger Stephen Collyer
