Alan Hugh Hanna

Al lived a life of dedication to his family and his profession of architecture. He had a deep passion for his interests in flying and golf and an appreciation for the simple joys of life, such as a good walk. He was quick to smile and laugh. He valued hard work and embodied a prairie sensibility that was both practical and wise.

Al was a child of the prairies and the Depression, born in Regina, Saskatchewan on November 13, 1931 to parents Hugh and Doris. After finishing high school, Al left Regina to attend the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and met the love of his life, Dianne, in line to register on the first day of University. He always remembered hearing her deep, husky voice as a first impression.

Al's professional journey began with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Manitoba in 1955, followed by a Master of Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956. Two of the notable practitioner lecturers who worked with his class at MIT and had a significant influence on him were Eero Saarinen and Louis Kahn. Al started his architectural career in Regina with Izumi, Arnott, and Sugiyama, but returned to Winnipeg in 1958 to join the design department of Smith, Carter, and Searle.

Two years later, he and Doug Gillmor joined Morley Blankstein, Issie Coop, Al Waisman and Jack Ross in a partnership that continues today as Number TEN Architectural Group, with offices in Winnipeg and Victoria. Al’s notable projects included the prize-winning Mendel Art Gallery and Conservatory in Saskatoon, the Churchill Townsite Redevelopment, and numerous housing and school projects in northern communities. His passion for architecture never waned – he walked through life always with an eye on the details and design of the structures around him.

Al served on the Council of the Manitoba Association of Architects and as president in 1969, and on the council of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 1969-70. His commitment to the Winnipeg community included serving as President for Neighborhood Service Centres of Greater Winnipeg, and as Board Chair of the Winnipeg Children’s Aid Society, and the University of Winnipeg. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Winnipeg in 1989.

Al and Dianne moved to the west coast of Canada in 1990 and built a home of Al’s own design in Victoria where they lived throughout the rest of his life. Al's capacity for unconditional love was most evident in his relationships with his wife Dianne, his sons Bob (and his wife Martha), Doug (and his wife Brenda), and Don (and his wife Shenda), and his grandchildren Beth, Sam, Dominic, Rosy, Bryan and Grace. He followed his children’s and grandchildren’s activities with great interest and was always quick to provide golf tips to those who would listen. He cherished his time at the family cabin in Lake of the Woods, Ontario and his appreciation for a good walk inspired those around him to do the same.

Al always wanted to fly. He recalled joining the Jimmie Allen Flying Club, complete with cardboard cockpit, when he was five. He eventually fulfilled his dream of flying by getting his pilot’s license at the age of 40, eventually working his way up to an air transport rating (the highest rating for a civilian). He combined his love for architecture and flying by piloting his own aircraft to take consultants, staff, and clients to building projects in communities all over the Canadian North.

Al’s love for golf and hockey was infectious. He felt that golf taught life lessons of honesty, fair play, and friendship. He cherished the many good friends he made at the Cordova Bay Golf Club in Victoria. The annual golf trip with his sons starting in 2000 until 2019 was a highlight of the year for each of them. Al was a lifelong hockey fan. He liked to regale his sons with stories of his youth hockey that invariably included the use of magazines for shin pads and “horse apples” for hockey pucks. Al also maintained unwavering support for his favorite team the Winnipeg Jets which began in the early days of the WHA and continued on to the present Jets 2.0, a team he worshipped from afar.

Alan Hanna's legacy lives on in the spirit of those who knew him. His love for life, dedication to his profession, and the countless memories he created with his family and friends will be cherished forever.

The family would like to thank Adrian, Sora, and Joanne as well as the dedicated staff from VIHA, who all provided home care support in the last year of his life and enabled him to stay in his beloved Victoria home.

A private family memorial service will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The United Way, or to the Hanna Family Scholarship with the University of Winnipeg Foundation.