Bernard Emile Joseph Duteau

Bernard Emile Joseph Duteau (Bart) was born on May 29,1933. He was the oldest son of thirteen children and grew up in the small French-Canadian community of St Paul, Alberta. Bart had a thirst for life, so in his teens he hopped on a train and worked at a logging camp on Vancouver Island before being sent home for being underage. At eighteen, he joined the navy for a year and then took up various jobs across Canada working for Ontario Hydro, Gulf Oil, Wildwood Surveying in Alberta, and on a survey crew in Thunder Bay. He eventually completed his training in the late 1950’s, and came out to BC where he surveyed parts of the Coquihalla, Prince George, McBride, and Stewart Cassiar Highways. Bart ran into several adventures surveying in northern BC—he spoke of a life sleeping in a tent for months at a time and, on occasion, out of necessity, surveying on horseback or by canoe. At  one point, as a last resort to make it out of the bush with his fellow surveyors, he consented to be tied to the pontoon of a float plane.

In 1961, Bart met the love of his life—his bride—Lorna McFadden in North Vancouver and married her soon after. While working for the department of highways, Bart and Lorna moved fourteen times in ten years throughout BC while raising three children. In 1971, Bart and family settled down in Gibsons BC, building a home on the bluff and growing life-long friendships on the coast. Bart gave back to the community through volunteer work with the Gibsons Kinsman Club, working the beer garden at Sea Cavalcade, and forging strong ties with members of St Mary’s parish. He loved life on the coast—he especially enjoyed fishing for salmon, playing bridge, and camping with his family at Porpoise Bay each summer.  Bart was an avid reader, an accomplished gardener, and a hockey fanatic.

Bart retired from the Department of Highways after twenty-nine years of service, and then worked at Port Mellon until he fully retired at age 65.  In their later life, Bart and Lorna were snowbirds traveling around North America in their Westfalia van, and enjoying their home away from home at The Fountain of Youth Resort in California, where they stayed for a few months each year.

Bernard. Black Bart. The legend. Bart will be missed by all who crossed paths with him. Bart is survived by his three children Micheal (wife Jennifer), Dean (wife Marg) and Maureen (partner Michael) as well as his grandchildren Matthew and Zachary. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Saturday 20 May 2023 in Gibsons. Please RSVP to email mduteau+bartcelebrate@gmail.com by 1 May 2023 if you wish to attend.

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