In celebration of Uncle Tony

Today's post is a sad one...but also a celebration of Tony Brummet (Anthony Julius Brummet: March 31, 1931 - June 8, 2024) - Dave's paternal uncle (his father's brother) - who passed recently. 

Uncle Tony was a Canadian educator and politician serving in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Lands, Parks & Housing, also holding positions as Minister of Environment, and Minisiter of Education. He passed gracefully in his home at the age of 93.

Today, I'm taking the liberty to share a portion of this memorial biography, (author unknown), of a man who led a very long and interesting life:

Tony was born on March 31, 1931 in Mendham, Saskatchewan. The family moved to northern Alberta when Tony was a year old and then onto British Columbia when Tony was ten years old, settling in Rutland. In addition to his elementary school studies, Tony held jobs including working in his father’s blacksmith shop, tending raspberry acres, maintaining a ditch irrigation system, and raising rabbits that he prepared for sale by the local butcher.

When Tony’s father died in 1945, the family’s only income was the various odd jobs Tony and his siblings could find. Tony began working for a local farmer to plow fields and cultivate farm crops around his school hours, eventually taking entire months off from school (with the principal’s blessing) to work picking apples and cherries, as a ranch-hand, at a sawmill, and for a contractor who was building, among other things, the new Rutland Secondary School.

Despite the family’s financial difficulties, Tony was determined to get an education and graduate from Grade 12. He excelled as a student and was often exempted from taking final exams, which freed up the month of June to take on more work to support his family. While in school he entered public speaking contests, acted in plays with the drama club, and participated in several team sports including soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and hockey.

Outside of school, Tony joined the local baseball team and at the age of 16 was invited to join the Rutland men’s team. The team and fans believed Tony had potential, so they raised the funds necessary to send him to professional major league training in Colville, Washington, and in Kamloops. From there, Tony received a contract to report to a spring training camp in Yuba City, California for professional tryouts. Though he was at a disadvantage as the other players had been practicing for weeks already while there was still snow on the ground in Rutland, Tony made a good impression and was recommended to professional teams in Oregon. Unable to afford the bus ticket to Oregon, he decided to end his brief professional baseball career and head for home.

Tony enjoyed working with young people so, after high school graduation, he entered a one-year teacher training program at Victoria Normal School and was quickly offered a job at the Falkland Elementary/Junior High School. Over the years he upgraded his academic credentials, eventually earning his Bachelor of Arts, and began taking vice-principal and principal positions. For a time he worked as the Supervisor of Elementary Instruction, traveling frequently across the northern school districts.

It was in Falkland that Tony met Audrey Smith and they were married in 1952. The couple raised three children – Heather, Tom, and Sue – and the family eventually settled in Fort St. John. Tony and Audrey were together until her death in 1984.

Tony was urged to run in the 1979 provincial election under the Social Credit banner. He won the election by a wide margin and began a twelve-year career as MLA representing North Peace River. He was appointed to Cabinet first as Minister of Lands, Parks and Housing, then as Minister of Environment, Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources, and finally as Minister of Education. Tony retired from elected politics in June 1991 after a distinguished career that included numerous achievements that still benefit the lives of British Columbians to this day.

Tony met Lois Hughes and they married in 1985.

In retirement, Tony and Lois moved to Osoyoos where he was active in the community through the local art gallery, the local museum and archives, and the golf course. Tony was a dedicated advocate for golf accessibility, urging courses to adopt measures that would support the participation of everyone regardless of their mobility. Tony and Lois enjoyed many years of travel around the world, both for Tony’s work and for pleasure.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Desert Valley Hospice Society, Box 1261 Oliver BC V0H 1T0 or https://dvhs.ca/donate