Edna Agatha MacQuarrie – September 17, 1927 to May 11, 2013

Schooled in Kaslo, BC then Mt. Royal College in Calgary, Dan was well on his way to becoming a petrochemical engineer when he went to work, as part of the course curriculum, in Turner Valley Oilfield. He moved to Leduc Alberta shortly after oil was discovered there on February 13, 1947. It was while he was working at Leduc that he met Edna Hartfelder, and they married on August 9, 1950. Together they raised three children: Roy, Wayne and Carolynn.

Following a personal conversion experience at age 32, Dan returned to school, attending St. Stephen’s College, on the campus of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, becoming an ordained Minister in the United Church of Canada in 1964. After two years of ministering in St. Paul, AB, he and the family accepted an invitation to be minister here at First United Church. In 1973 the family returned from Vancouver, to Salmon Arm for a sabbatical. Besides having his own business, he served Mt Ida, Silver Creek, Falkland, Sicamous, & Malakwa. In 1985 He & Edna served the Methodist Church in the Caribbean & the Americas. In 1988 they returned to serve Anglican/United Churches in Sorrento, Chase, & Celista, retiring in 1992.

Dan and Edna were active members of the Salmon Arm community. Dan’s grandfather arrived in Armstrong with the Overlanders in 1862. His roots here run deep. Dan belonged to the Chamber of Commerce, and was an Alderman for six years, 1975 – 1981. In his first year as Alderman he began lobbying to have smoking in public places banned. Edna used to make him take his clothes off on the back porch after council meetings held in a windowless room at the Council Chambers in Salmon Arm West Elementary School. His latest effort, “Dan’s Bylaw”, was formally adopted on July 1, 2013, banning smoking in all municipal parks and public areas in Salmon Arm. 38 years of perseverance.

Together with Ces Stainsby, in 1966 Edna took on the job of coordinating a 22 teacher and 150 child Sunday School program. In those days, she and Dan also opened their home to women who had been arrested by the RCMP; there were no accommodations for them at the jail. Throughout the 28 years of their ministry together, she was the organizer of uncounted funerals and memorials, providing comfort for everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. Edna was also a Welcome Wagon Host for a number of years, thoroughly enjoying welcoming newcomers to ‘her’ community. When Robbie Burns suppers were no longer held on an annual basis, Edna initiated an ‘international gathering’ where people came dressed in their traditional costumes and brought pot luck dishes associated with their country of origin. She, and Bernadette Forer, were instrumental in the founding of the local Grandmothers to Grandmothers organization, and huge supporters of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Edna died on May 11, 2013 at age 85. Dan is grateful for the 63 years they had together, working as a team.

Throughout their lives together, Dan and Edna shared a passion for social justice and the environment. To that end, interest/dividends earned by the Dan and Edna MacQuarrie Family Endowment Fund will be granted to non-profit organizations to support initiatives or projects which further social justice, fostering respect, harmony and fairness within the Shuswap community. Dan has now partnered with Okanagan College working together for Social Justice.

The fund is open to further donations, ensuring that the work begun by Dan and Edna continues.