IVES, Colin Michael
February 18, 1942 – June 1, 2017
Age 75 years.
Born in London, England, the only child to Ron and Doris, Colin learned, at an early age, how to make his own fun, a skill that never left him and served him well throughout his life. When only a child he lost his beloved Mum, and eventually, in adolescence he left school to help his Dad in the family business. By day, they ran a neighbourhood pet store. By night they were involved in Greyhound racing. Their kennels were full of competitors in various stages of their racing careers. From this grew Colin’s love of dogs… once a dog lover, forever a dog lover.
Later, as soon as he was old enough, he joined the British military and there discovered a life-long passion for motorcycles. (He used that passion later, in Canada, to write and create The B.C. Motorcycle Training Program, still in use today.) He was selected to join the SAS, a special branch within the army, and was named the C.O.’s bodyguard. Everywhere the C.O. went, Colin had to accompany him. That even included jumping out of, as Colin would say, “perfectly good airplanes!”
Colin wanted to leave England and see the world. He took on three jobs, simultaneously, in order to earn enough money to immigrate to Canada. And in 1964, as a fresh-faced 22-year-old, he left his dad and flew to Toronto. He took a job as a waiter on the CN trains and spent many of his first months in Canada traveling back and forth by train, between Vancouver and Winnipeg. Colin decided that Canada, in particular Western Canada, was where he wanted to build his life and he became a Canadian citizen as soon as he was able. He pursued avid interests in politics and travel and perfected the art of making friends.
He met Susan, the love of his life, on the first Wednesday in April 1977. Together they built a marriage filled with love and respect. They faced life with an unmatched level of devotion to each other. In his business life, Colin was an uncompromising entrepreneur. He built a successful group of companies chiefly known as “Ives Training.” His focus was on the safe operation of heavy equipment and the programs he created became the industry standard throughout North America. In the early nineties, Colin was appointed to Board of Directors of The Pacific Pilotage Authority, where his knowledge and expertise in the safety field was expanded to include the pilotage of commercial marine vessels.
In 1997, Colin and Susan moved from greater Vancouver to Kelowna, where Colin pursued his equine interests. He loved his English Shire horses and burst with pride at seeing them compete in driving competitions during the summer months and pulling the sleigh at Big White in the winter. Upon retirement, Colin continued his desire to travel by taking up cruising. Together, he and Susan, traveled the world, where Colin enjoyed not only seeing all the sights but also meeting new people and widening his circle of life-long friends.
Colin withstood his increasing health challenges with strength and courage. His humour and resilience, in the face of relentless adversity, were an inspiration to all that knew him. His passing leaves an enormous hole in countless hearts and he will be forever missed.
Colin is survived by his loving wife Susan, and extended family and friends all around the globe. Predeceased by his Dad, Walter Ronald and his Mum, Doris Emily. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 16th at 4:00 pm at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. Should family and friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.ca. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com, 250-860-7077.