Obituary of Arthur Donald Sutton

It is with great sorrow that the family announces the death of Art Sutton following a difficult illness. Left to mourn his passing are his loving wife Judy; his beloved children Sharon (Danny), Mike, Tanya (Dave) and Andrew (Morgan); his sister Sharon Swan (Carl); grandchildren Robin, Juliana and Thomas; nieces Tanys and Sarah; and nephew David. His family was his greatest joy. In 1937 Art was born to Ernest and Gwen Sutton in Campbellford, Ontario. As Ernie was transferred in his job with Ontario Hydro the family moved to Peterborough, then St. Thomas and finally settled in Belleville. For his education, Art came to Winnipeg to study at St. John’s College and then the University of Manitoba Faculty of Education. He began teaching in Ashern, Manitoba and went on to enjoy a long and successful career as teacher and principal in Seven Oaks School Division. Always game for a challenge, he introduced the first Ukrainian bilingual program in Seven Oaks, charted the course for programs in French immersion and initiated Hebrew bilingual education. Children, teachers and parents alike were grateful for his kind and steady guidance. Art’s parallel career was with the Canadian Army Reserve where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and CO of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. As Cameron CO he had the opportunity to travel with fellow officers to Scotland and with Judy to England to present a petition to Prince Phillip. Following his retirement from the Reserves in 1984, Art maintained connections with his military friends, working with the Cameron Highlanders Advisory Board and Army Cadet League of Canada. He was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Art joined the board of the Commissionaires of Canada and then became a full Colonel when he was appointed CEO of the Commissionaires of Canada in Winnipeg in 2004, remaining in this position until 2008. This third career offered opportunities to travel to almost every Canadian province. Ever ready to volunteer his services, Art chaired the boards at his Church and at Middlechurch Personal Care Home and served on several committees in his home community. Art was a builder who always had a project going: organizing a high school timetable, planning a military exercise, renovating an old house, finishing a cottage or building a bookcase for his granddaughter. He began each project with research and thorough planning and then set to work. Because he had an amazing memory, Art was a great storyteller and speaker, ready to share his perspective on any subject. While his knowledge base was extensive, he had an inquiring mind and enjoyed the process of discovery. He could equally embrace modern technology and genealogy, philosophy and politics, medicine and altruism. He was always teaching us, playing vocabulary games with his grandchildren and leading us to the next level. Art was gentle, polite and brave. He listened, spoke kindly and cared about others, living his life with grace and drive. The family is grateful for the expertise and kindness shown to Art at Cancer Care and at St. Boniface Hospital. If friends so desire, donations may be made in Art’s memory to either of these institutions. An outdoor family celebration of Art’s life is planned.