Kootenay Columbia MP Wayne Stetski rose in the House of Commons to honour Bud Abbot, a beloved Cranbrook icon who recently passed away days after his 98th birthday.
“He was a community icon, a model for how to live your life as a senior, and a much loved friend to many,” Stetski told the House, during a session on Feb. 5th.
Abbott, who lived in the Key City for nearly 60 years, was heavily involved in the community, particularly as a musical and theatre arts performer. In fact, his work with a local theatre arts group helped saving an old Masonic temple from being turned into a parking lot, which eventually became the Studio Stage Door.
He was heavily invovled with organizations such as the Rotary Club, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Cranbrook Community Theatre Society and would often attend Joseph Creek Village and the F.W. Green Home to sing for the residents.
He came to Cranbrook after flying naval aircraft in the Second World War, where he was involved in a mission that bombed the Tirpitz — the sister ship to the famous Bismarck battleship.
A Celebration of Life for Abbott was held at the Heritage Inn on Feb. 2nd.