On Jan. 30 Airdrie lost an “outstanding member of the community” according to Mayor Peter Brown. Dick Buchanan, 78, died in hospital on Jan. 30, leaving behind two children, two grandchildren and a lasting legacy within the community.
“He was kind of an institution in the community,” Brown said. “He was a good friend to myself and a lot of people. He’s going to be so sorely missed.”
Buchanan purchased Air Alta Insurance Ltd. in 1976 with his wife June, who passed away in April 2014, and together they ran the company for more than 30 years, eventually passing the business down to their daughter and son-in-law in 2013.
Not only did Buchanan run a successful business, he also served as president for the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce for three terms, 1980, 1986 and 2004. He was also selected as the recipient for the 2011 Airdrie Business Leader Award and was honoured with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals for outstanding community service in 2012.
Brown said Buchanan was a “tremendous guy” who always put Airdrie first and was a great fundraiser.
“He was responsible for our first ambulance,” Brown said.
Buchanan also gave of his time, volunteering with the Lions, Rotary and Shriners, but the noun many people used to describe Buchanan is mentor.
“My favourite memory of Dick, he (was) a man to talk to and he listened,” Alderman Ron Chapman said. “He was always a wealth of information and a mentor.”
Chapman said Buchanan was one of the first people he talked to when we decided to run for City council in 2010 and the best advice Buchanan gave him was to, “always make sure you listen to what people have to say and always look them in the eye.”
“He was a great community builder in Airdrie and will be sorely missed.”
Buchanan was a dependable presence at the Airdrie Home and Lifestyle Show, not only acting as a sponsor but also serving as stage announcer for more than 25 years.
He was also instrumental in bringing the Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie (BGCA) to the city.
“He was one of the founding board members that actually brought the Boys and Girls Club to Airdrie in 1979,” said BGCA Executive Director Denisa Sanness.
“He supported so many events at Community Links and the Boys and Girls Club. He just loved being able to give back and take part.”
She said she remembered Buchanan dressing up and helping out at Halloween-themed BGCA events over the years, adding he was happy to give his time.
“I know the Boys and Girls Club will definitely be doing something (to remember him).”
Sanness also had a more personal connection to Buchanan because he was her dad’s best friend.
“I will really miss him,” she said. “He wasn’t our family by blood but he was definitely family.”
“He just had a tremendously caring heart,” she added. “He really was a generous soul.”
She said as a Shriner, Buchanan was not only an active member but also a big supporter of other members.
“He was overly proud of everything my father (a fellow Shriner) accomplished,” she said.
Sanness said her entire family is feeling the loss.
“We’re all feeling a real significance to losing him,” she said. “He was such an amazing man and I was truly blessed to have him be a part of our life.”
A private funeral service will held on Feb. 6.
