Victor John Beisel

It is with immense sadness that I share this notice about the death of my beloved, adored, and much loved husband Victor John Biesel who left this life suddenly, doing what he loved, riding in his tractor, his favourite place, on 10th June 2023 at our farm.

Victor was born in Swift Current Saskatchewan on 27th April 1969. He was a man with a big big heart. He was welcoming, open and generous in spirit. He always looked to help and improve the lives of many around him. Vic spent much of his youth on farms with his family both in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. He loved the outdoor life. He had many stories of life on the farm and in the bush often regaling friends and family with his stories, all of which were true and maybe just a little bit exaggerated. ‘It makes a better story’ he would say.

Ever the overachiever, Vic graduated from high school early and went straight into the business world displaying his managerial skills from the outset. One example is being employed at a gas station with a mechanics space. The owner, in need of a break, so trusted his young employee just out of high school, that he gave him the keys, told him to manage the place as he saw fit and left Vic to it. Vic, always with the sound philosophy that a business should make a profit, set out about restructuring the unprofitable mechanic space, opened up the career opportunities for the sub par performing mechanics and turned the mechanical bays into an auto accessory shop, to be the most profitable part of the business. His employer returned to a completely different and financially sound business. This early start was just the beginning of Vic flexing his entrepreneurial skills, which were honed at the feet of his late father, Orville Beisel. He worked with his father on many projects over the years. They were very close.

From that early start Vic moved on to operate several other profitable businesses. Soon though, he realised that a young man in his early 20’s needed to have some fun in his life.

Along the way he applied to the military. For various reasons his intake was delayed. This was the military’s loss as by the time the next intake was offered, it had started snowing. The choice for Vic was easy. He was going skiing and he chased the snow for a season or two in Alberta and Montana in his little Chevy Sprint. He enjoyed this “ski bum life” and on one occasion he wangled accommodation at Lake Louise Hotel. Vic trained to become a Level 1 Ski Instructor at Louise. His Dad, Orville, joined him on one of these adventures. Initially intent on admonishing his son for having too much fun and not paying attention to business, once Orville saw what his son was actually up to, he gave his son these wise words of advice, “Just keep doing what you’re doing boy”.

One summer, Vic, on his way North to ‘a real job’ - driving a rock truck, stopped at Kamloops to stay with a friend’s mother. She extolled the virtues of Sun Peaks, then called Todd Mountain. Snow? Vic’s work plans segued from the prospects of making several hundred dollars a day hauling rocks to skiing and $28 a day.

It is a little-known part of Vic’s life that he recognised early that he had an issue with alcohol. Realizing that taking the rock truck job could turn his life in a very different direction he chose to stay in the mountains. That choice become a catalyst for change in my life and the lives of many others.

Being a qualified ski instructor, Vic obtained free skiing at other mountains. He did not pass up this opportunity and with free ski passes for several days at Todd he soon fell in love with the mountain. The ski director, a wily gentleman, saw this fluent in German instructor’s potential and wooed him accordingly, offering him the princely sum of $28 per day to instruct.

Vic’s decision to go skiing instead of rock hauling brought us together at Todd. We met, we fell in love, and married in short order on 5th April 1992 in front of a pastor and two witnesses, renewing our vows in January 1993 with family and friends in a sweet cold little chapel in the snow at Louis Creek Road.

It was a surprise for both of us to have such a deep connection so quickly after meeting. We were so closely connected that we dreamed the same dreams. In the morning we could finishing each others stories from those dreams. We were one. We had the same goals and thirst for adventures. He would say to me often. “I am so glad I am on this adventure with you” I could not have had a better match, a better person, a better husband.

We lived and worked on Todd Mountain, now Sun Peaks Resort. At first, in a tiny rented cabin in the woods with a hippy killer stove, no running water, and plastic on at least 8 broken windows. We lived there for 7 years, improving the cabin slowly, Later buying a newly built condo in Sun Peaks. We worked as instructors as well as taking on other work, before starting our own ski instructing business running this together for several years.

Always on the lookout for a business opportunity, we moved to Calgary. Vic’s determination not to move any further away from the mountains than Calgary suited me just fine. I liked the mountains. We both worked in several businesses, then, when I decided to continue my education, Vic supported me without reservation through my studies, first in Alberta studying psychology then further studies in Kamloops.

Vic made good connections in Calgary, built on his business expertise, and when we returned to Kamloops while I completed my law degree. I arrived in Kamloops beforehand to study law and Vic, my ever patient, funny, wise husband, came a little later after winding up our Calgary affairs.

I have said that Vic always looked to help others better their lives. While employed as director of training with Xpel, Vic put in place - the Friday Meetings. These were initially for a few company employees, later expanding to a global network of trainers. The meetings were originally for training trainers, he used his best Quebec accent to say ‘pedagogy’, thus aiming the trainers to bloom, however this training spilled over to other aspects of life. Vic’s motto was if each of us can become a better person, we will have a better world.

Our shared affinity for nature and desire for living closer to the earth and wanting a better world led us to buy property outside of Kamloops. Vic loved working on his tractor on the land and always had some project on the go exercising his need to create. This went hand in hand with my desire to implement a permaculture plan on the property. We lived in harmony with the seasons and provided for ourselves from the land as much as possible.

Vic lived as he worked. Always with a view to helping others. He touched many lives with many acts of generosity and kindness. His early recognition of his problems with alcohol was his impetus to reach out to others who were struggling with addictions.

After a while, Vic and I, both tired of life near a city which seemed to be getting busier. We decided to relocate north to pursue a quieter life while living closer to the earth. We wanted to improve the land and leave a legacy in soil. We revelled in the peace and quiet. We also loved the deep greens of the landscape. For me, the green landscape a familiar feeling of belonging, having grown up in a lush landscape and for Vic, it was a return to his childhood, having spent some years in the North.

The legacy Vic left behind was one of kindness generosity, a lifetime of stories sometimes larger than life and for me the deepest gratitude for having the privilege of spending over 30 years of life with this wonderful man. Many besides myself will miss him. Those who have stepped up to support me have shown by actions in their lives, that Vic’s wise and often funny words did not fall on deaf ears. You have made him proud on many occasions and you continue to do so – we have talked about this and I too am grateful for your love for him and your support. I have learned so much in the last few weeks about how to deal with this episode of life that we all have/ will deal with. I am also very grateful that Vic and I talked often about such eventualities. It has made this transition window easier from the get go. I am sure there will be many occasions yet when the struggle will be real, but for now, I ask you to celebrate a life well worth celebrating.

In keeping with his philosophy of kindness generosity and helping others, I ask that you direct donations to a cause which was close to his heart. The Mustard Seed www.theseed.ca or contact [email protected] and note the donation is in Vic’s name.

He is always in my heart.

Kim Grimwade