Cyril Joseph Eugene Fortin

Cy Fortin, 86, of Prince George, B.C., passed away peacefully on October 13, 2025, in hospice care, surrounded by family, friends, and the music of Hank Williams Jr. “Mon ami” will be remembered for his love of music, hiking, jogging, wine-making, welding, teaching and sense of humour.

Born in Saint Front, Saskatchewan, Cy grew up in the French-Canadian community of Perigord, the fourth of nine children of Emile and Alida Fortin. He spent his early years around the family’s general store and garage before leaving home at 14 with his older brother Greg to work as section men on the Canadian Pacific Railway near Fairmont, BC.

Cy realized manual labour wasn’t his path and took a welding course in Edmonton. In 1959, he moved to Prince George and joined Thompson Construction. He was then hired to build Northwood Pulp and Paper Mill. Afterward, he worked as a maintenance welder at the mill, refining his trade over 9 years.

In 1961, Cy was introduced to Irene Johnson, a nurse from the Kootenays who was visiting from Fort Nelson. They connected over music and the outdoors. After Irene finished her cross-Canada nursing adventure, they married in 1965, settled in Prince George, and raised two daughters, Teresa and Laurel.

Cy began teaching welding part-time at the College of New Caledonia in 1972. To go full-time, he completed his high school diploma age 34. Over 27 years, Cy trained more than 3,000 students and championed trades education.

A lifelong learner, Cy read metallurgical, math, and history books in his spare time. In his final days, Laurel read to him from his 1956 welding textbook.

In 1987, he started a welding inspection business that took him across B.C., Alberta and the Yukon looking at bridges, pipelines and buildings. He reluctantly retired in 2018 at the age of 79.

Cy loved music. He sang bass in the St. Mary’s Church choir and performed with the Cantata Singers, and a barbershop choir. In his 40s, he taught himself guitar and fully enjoyed being a BC Old Time Fiddler for over 25 years playing at dances, parties and seniors’ centres.

Cy and Irene spent a month each year for 11 summers as volunteer camp hosts in remote B.C. parks, including Spatzizi, Naikoon and Kakwa. They also traveled across Canada, Australia, and to places like France, Kenya, Cuba and Thailand.

Cy said his greatest joy was “seeing my daughters grow up to become mothers to my grandchildren.” It surprises no one who knew him that his favourite things were “pea soup and my guitar.”

Cy is survived by his wife Irene; daughters Teresa (Alistair) and Laurel; grandchildren Sophie, Henry, Oliver and Abigail; and siblings Greg (Ann), Camille, Joan, and Docile (Clem). He was predeceased by Lorraine, Florence, Charlie and Genevieve.

Special thanks to Northern Health homecare nurses and aides for their care.

A celebration of life will be held on November 15, 2025, at 11am at the Elder Citizens Recreation Association, 1692 10th Ave in Prince George.