Obituary of Brian Carriere

Brian Carriere, resident of Dawson Creek, passed away on January 19, 2020 at the age of 58. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 24, 2020 at 2:00pm at the Dawson Creek Alliance Church. Expressions of sympathy may be made by donation to the Dawson Creek Minor Hockey Association, Box 1032, Dawson Creek, British Columbia V1G 4H9. Eulogy Good afternoon everybody and thank you for joining us today to celebrate the life of our dad, husband, uncle, grandpa and friend. As you all know, Dad was a special person. There are so many positive things to say about him, but because he would be thinking right now "Hurry up, this is taking too long" I am going to try and keep it as short as I can. Brian Douglas Carriere. A resident of Dawson Creek B.C. Passed away on January 19th, 2020 in flight between Vancouver and Dawson Creek. Dad was born in Vanderhoof, B.C. April 15th, 1961 to loving parents Shirley and Denis Carriere and big brother Thom. The son of a referee and coach, dad gained a respect and love for the game of hockey. He spent the rest of his time in cadets and the high school band. Dad grew up with some close friends, Peter, Brad, Martin and Richard. After high school graduation in Dawson Creek, Dad went to Olds College and completed a certificate in Grain Elevator Operations. Dad moved to Grande Prairie and worked for the Alberta Wheat Pool in Hythe, Alberta. While working in Hythe dad played some games for the Hythe Mustangs of the South Peace Hockey League. His lungs couldn't handle the dust and he moved on. Dad spent some time in Kamloops, but always said he knew he would end up in Dawson Creek because there was always work here. Once back in Dawson Creek Dad met his first wife. They were married and had 2 children, Whitney and I. A few years later mom and dad were divorced, making way for dad to meet up with his high school sweetheart, Elaine. One day while in high school, Elaine was stranded roadside with a flat tire. She said her "Prince Charming" came by and offered her some help. They dated for a while, with Dad even giving her a "promise ring". I guess something that cheesy is to be expected from the guy who played trumpet and clarinet in the high school band. Things didn't work out and they went their separate ways, until meeting up again in their late 20's. Dad and Elaine were married and Jennifer and Trevor were added to our family. Dad instantly cared for and loved them like they were his own. After a couple years of marriage, we were all blessed with a little sister, Brianna. This completed the Carriere Clan. We grew up on 111th avenue, only a few blocks from where dad spent his childhood. This is where he first operated his B. Carriere Contracting, working out of the garage in the back yard and having meetings after work with the crew around the living room table. There are too many words that can be used to describe Dad, but a few that come to my mind are; determined, respected, fair, handy, talented, leader, fighter and friend. Dad was exceptional at anything he put his mind to. Whether it was growing the best tomatoes and cucumbers in the Peace Country, leading his boys to a provincial hockey championship or learning to play the banjo. If he wanted to do it, he could, and he would. When dad set his mind to something, he was going to do it and be the best at it. He worked tirelessly at perfecting the banjo, watching hours after hours of instructional videos, sitting on his bed and picking away. Within a year he had become skilled and confident enough to jam with some other musicians around town and he wasn't out of place. Much like Grandma Carriere, Dad loved to spend time in his garden, growing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, Swiss chard and other tasty vegetables. He always had the best, fruitiest, and loved plants around town. When Dad and Elaine lived just off 17th street you could often drive by on your way home from work and see dad watering his tomatoes in his, Brian Carriere special, pair of black boxer briefs and a tee shirt. If you were lucky he would even wave to you as you drove by! I think he had 49 pairs of those underwear. If you hung around the Carriere house, you know exactly what underwear I'm talking about. As the girls grew older and started their own gardens, Dad was always their first call when things wouldn't grow. Of course, he would offer his best advice to help them, passing on his knowledge and improving the Carriere green thumb, Brianna, Whitney and Jennifer continue to grow with successI must have missed that advice. My tomatoes suck. Dad will always be known around the community as a leader, a coach and a role model. Nothing confirms this more than his success as a minor hockey coach. During the 1999-2000 season the Dawson Creek Peewee rep team, coached by Dad, Mike Fraser and Darrell MacDonald were granted the right to host the Peewee AA' Provincial Championship tournament. Dad and his coaching staff led the team to the championship, an accomplishment Dawson Creek Minor Hockey, the players, their parents and other coaches will cherish and be proud of forever. Dad continued to coach after that season, coaching the Midget Rep team. Heloved being at the rink and being around the boys. Many of his former players are here today, a testament to the love and respect they had for "Coach Carriere". Dad picked up golf in his early 30's while hanging out with an old friend, Jerry Ridings. Soon after being introduced to it, he fell in love. Trevor and I, especially, have many memories of hitting the links with Dad and the usual golfing buddies, Donny, Todd and others. But it wasn't always just the boys. Dad and Elaine would load up all 5 of us kids and take us out to Farmington Fairways to play. Trevor and I joke that we only played golf as a family until we were able to beat Elainethen it was boy's time. We all had a laugh remembering a 4-year-old Brianna taking the steering wheel of the cart as everyone was hitting their shots and finding the gas pedalthank goodness the wheel was cranked. Around and around she went. After the initial panic died down, I remember dad laughing before we continued to play. That was the end of the family golf, but just the beginning for the boys. Dad was an accomplished golfer, working towards and maintaining a single digit handicap, while having the steepest golf swing in the Western Canada. But like everything, he made it work. Dad loved golfing with his boys, having a beer and enjoying the course conditions. He often competed in the Mile 0' Open, winning the 1st flight a couple of times. Dad shot an even par round of 72 at the Dawson Creek Golf and Country Club. He also did the unthinkable and made, not 1, but 2 holes in 1 only 10 months apart. Acing holes 2 and 12 in Dawson Creek. It wasn't always pretty, but he found a way. He also loved watching his boys become better players and often finding a way to beat him. It didn't bother him. He was proud of us. He was an extremely talented tradesman. Dad turned these skills into a career and a successful business that he was very proud of. Operating different companies using the extremely creative names, B. Carriere Handyman Services, B. Carriere Yard Services and B. Carriere Contracting. Dad took pride in his work and it showed. He employed many good people over the years, including Trevor and myself. Dad expected all his employees to treat the customer with respect, be tidy and to do a good job. He would do anything for his customers. I remember dad having to leave Christmas dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Skaar's to go and fix a furnace on Christmas Eve, he didn't bat an eye. Dad knew he couldn't leave a family without heat during the holidays. It showed his characteralways concerned about the wellbeing of others. He cared deeply about his business and knew that treating his employees and customers was the key to longevity and success. He nailed it. Many skilled tradesmen got their start under our dad. He was a great mentor, leader and teacher to his guys and helped many of them to obtain journeymen tickets. He was a great tradesman, a great boss and a great friend to many of his employees. Dad could build anything out of wood and loved to tinker in his shop, completing one great project after another, building coat racks from hockey sticks, signs for businesses or anything he could dream up. After a hard day's work there was nothing better to Dad than to grab a case of cold ones and share them with his crew. He also wasn't afraid to throw epic shop Christmas parties. All of us have fond memories of his shop get-togethers with customers, coworkers and other trades people. A lot of stories were told, and a lot of memories created from those days. The family has many fond memories of our time with dad. Summer vacations to Kamloops, Edmonton or Waskesiu were always the best. Grouse and Rabbit hunting on Puggin's Mountain, driving around the traffic circle 5-15 times until we were too dizzy to see straight, hockey trips throughout Western Canada, salmon fishing on the ocean or fishing in the rivers, or just a phone call to catch up. Every moment spent with dad was a blessing. There was never an ask too big for dad. He would always find a way. As his children aged, dads love and pride for his family grew. He was extremely proud of his children and was happy to watch them and their families grow. Dad and Elaine welcomed 8 Grandchildren; Emma, Julie, Beckett, Emsley, Rhett, Theron, Jaxson and Liam into the family and 7 dog grandchildren; Sadie, Teddy, Dre, Stella, Samson, Brown and Luna. On top of that they also welcomed, with open arms; Whitney's husband Josh, Brianna's boyfriend Danny, Trevor's girlfriend Koral and my wife Karci into the mix. I think it's safe to say we tried to take all the love dad had to give, but he always seemed to have more. He loved his family and he loved his friends. Always looking forward to a coffee with Richard, a chat with Joe or a car ride with his fur baby Otis. Dad was predeceased by his father, Denis Carriere. He is survived by his; Mother; Shirley Carriere Wife; Elaine Carriere Siblings; Thom and Lenora Carriere Children; Jennifer Pringle, Lincoln Carriere and Karci Wallan, Trevor Pringle and Koral Landry, Whitney and Josh Clark, Brianna Carriere and Danny Michetti, and his best buddy Otis. In closing, a note to dad. To Dad, May the beers be colder, the tomatoes larger, the plumbing cleaner and the grass greener. We miss you and we love you. Thank you. Service 2:00 pm Friday, January 24, 2020 Alliance Church 9009 - 10th Street DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia, Canada V1G 4T1