Remembering Al Side

I was deeply saddened to learn of Mr. Al Side’s passing. I first met him back in 2008 when I was working as an apprentice electrician on one of his buildings near Westside Park. At the time, I was with Cookshaw Electric and was assigned to a project with a team of journeymen. One weekend, I went to the site to ensure my work was done properly, and there he was—Mr. Al Side himself. He jokingly told me, “We don’t pay you guys over the weekend,” to which I replied that if my name was on the work, I wanted to make sure it was done well, whether I was on the clock or not.

That conversation led to more, and he generously shared insights about building and leasing properties to generate revenue. Our discussion eventually turned to commercial real estate, and he encouraged me to consider getting into the field. Sixteen years later, here I am, working as a commercial leasing agent in downtown Calgary. It was a full-circle moment when I found myself involved in the initial office lease deal on behalf of Baron Oilfield, not realizing at the time that it was connected to Mr. Al Side’s business.

Over the years, I also had the pleasure of getting to know Mrs. Rhonda Side, and it was through our recent conversations that I learned of his passing. I want to extend my sincere condolences to Mr. Al Side’s family. He played a significant role in guiding me to where I am today, and I will always appreciate his kindness, generosity, and the advice he shared with me.

I worked for Al at Northern Metalic back in the late 70’s thoroughly enjoyed his stories and how he and Barb opened their home for us employees to celebrate Christmas. Al was fun to work for and a truly good man, fondly remembered.
My sincere condolences to Barb and family

A little over 20 years ago I was looking after the Insurance for Al’s companies and farm. One day he offered to show me around the farm. I thought this would be cool to see everything up close. We toured the shop and hay barns etc. but what he really wanted me to see was his buffalo herd and especially Ferdinand the bull. Somewhere in back of my brain I remembered being told that buffalo could be very ornery; but what an opportunity to see them up close. I didn’t expect to be that close. Al takes me through a gate and starts walking towards them. I’m getting a bit nervous now and he looks at me and says don’t worry unless they put their head down and paw at the dirt. I look at him then at the buffalo. They all had their heads down (increased nervousness). I ask him what do we do if they do charge. He says see that fence over there with that water trough. Yes I say. Well you run for it and use that water trough as a help to leap over the fence. I quickly realize that there’s really only room for one person at a time. Now I have a moral dilemma. Do I save my own skin or let the old guy win? Luckily no such decision had to be made that day but I often think about it and laugh.

Farewell, my amazing Big Brother.
My loving condolences to Barbara, Linda, Rhonda, Doug, Richard and the rest of your large and beautiful family.
You were always known as “Bazooke” to me. I didn’t know where the name came from but to me Al was too simple a name for someone of such great character and vision and a man who had so much love and enthusiasm for life and family.
I regret we did not spend more time together during your lifetime. Our ten year age difference and your early move to Northern Alberta prevented us from spending more time together in our younger years. Then my relocation to Australia almost 55 years ago, combined with our deep involvement in family and business, resulted in very few visits together.
I can proudly and fondly claim that I was involved in your earliest entrepreneurial activity when you were a teenager and I was about 9 years old. At the time you came across an idea that would make you a fortune. You developed a plant pot that would gradually release moisture into the soil to reduce watering frequency. My job was to assist in making the pots and was your first employee. Slave labour with no pay but I was proudly involved with my Big Bro.
Sadly, the business turned out to be a financial failure but I am sure you learned plenty from that venture. As only you can, you persevered, and moved on to phenomenal accomplishments in the business world that has made such an impact on so many in the Northern Alberta community.
Hard to believe that your one devoted employee eventually turned into over 600.
You did not possess a university degree but you were wiser and more commercially savvy than most people who had a more privileged education. You made the most of life and accomplished so much – not only in business but in family.
You lived for and cared so much for family. You were always there – not only for your immediate family but also for your nine siblings and their offspring.
Bazooke, your legacy of ethical conduct and passion in business and community generosity is being continued with the same enthusiasm and zeal by Linda and Rhonda and the rest of your family and will do so for many generations to come.
Sadly, age and distance prevent me from being at the memorial. The Australian Sides will get together on the day to celebrate your amazing life at which time our thoughts and love will be with Barbara and the family.

A handful of the messages received following Al’s departure:

“Al was a good friend and mentor. We are so very sorry for your loss.  We have many memories of his friendship and support and we are very grateful to have known him”.

“His humble and soft-spoken demeanor did not mask his great mind and energy as one of Alberta’s great entrepreneurs.”

“Your dad was so darn good to me and I really missed our visits over those years. He had time for me. I loved his deadly sense of humor. He gave me insight into a time that I was just old enough to catch the tail end and witness but never fully understood. All the way around he was a special person.”

“He was one of a kind.”

“He was a great man.”

“He was a special man.”

“Al always seemed to have time for everyone.  He was indeed an incredible man”

“He was an amazing man with a drive and vigor for life that is enviable”

“He was so engaging.  You won’t find anyone better.”

“Al and all of your family were such an important part of our lives both personally and professionally.”

“Just two weeks ago Al came out to our shop and it turned into a beautiful hour long visit filled with laughter and memories.  Hard to believe he is gone.”

We heard about Al  For some reason it sounds strange to me to say your Dad because he has always been Al. Nothing can be said to ease the loss but Oh what a legacy!”

“He was always such a good friend and always fun to be with.”

“I’m deeply saddened to hear about Al.  In our short time together he taught me lessons, gave me bits of wisdom and provided counsel that has changed my life for the better.  I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to work on your farm and to be able to build a relationship with his family. You are incredible people.  I’ll cherish the time I got to spend with him for the rest of my days.”

“I really enjoyed the time I spent with him and truly admired his work ethic and vision”

“Your Dad was always just the same as when I met him over 20 years ago.  He never really aged to me after that.  He was a wonderful man with a wonderful family.”

“I had the pleasure of meeting Al for the first time at RU this year and he was so engaging.”

“What a worthy tribute that matches the unique individual that he was.”

“He made a huge impact on all of us and we will remember him.”

“He truly was such a gentleman and a pillar of our community.”

“Losing a father is a profound and painful experience, and I can only imagine the grief you must be going through.”

“I wanted to reach out and share my condolences for the passing of Al Side. I know I enjoyed my relationship with him over the years.  It was always interesting to me to see how many times our paths crossed in doing business in Alberta. After a while I would chuckle when I went into a room, AGM, or business meeting at how unsurprising it was to see Al Side supporting and believing in the same companies as I did.”

“Al was a pillar of the Grande Prairie community, and he will be sorely missed. He made this world a better place.”

“You and your family know more than anyone what a community builder and visionary he was and more importantly your parent/Dad!”

“I have memories of seeing him in the community and also at the golf course and he was always kind and had a special smile and friendly eyes and a hello.”

“Al was such an amazing man – intelligent, caring, fun and always optimistic. Life seem to bring him daily joy – his love of family and friends always present.”

“Al was a long time friend and a mentor to many, including me. He was a giant in his space and helped many of the area entrepreneurs do amazing things during good times and tough times. I have  great memories of times spent with him, flying around in old airplanes with a wild pilot called Fred.

We will miss him.”

Dear Linda,

I am writing to express my condolences to you for your sad loss.  Your father was an iconic figure in Grande Prairie and I feel privileged to have known him and to have worked with him.  Al made an impact on the business community as well as on the lives of many people.

I’ve had time to pause and reflect on the years I worked at Visa.  Al was a man who may not have been large in stature but he was a giant in so many ways. I’ve worked for some fine people over the years, but there was no one whom I respected and admired more.  I think its indisputable that he was a giant in cerebral matters too, and he must have gone to bed every night wondering where the next opportunity to start a business would present itself.

I still see the laughter in his eyes when he handed me a slightly risque Dear Ann Landers joke and waited for me to react.  He had such a wicked sense of humor and he was just fun to be around.

No one enjoyed a golf game more, especially when he played well, or just a brief visit from someone stopping in at the office.  I think he was not just a keen businessman but also a man who enjoyed people, particularly smart people.

I wonder how many people benefited from being mentored by Al Side and how many he quietly supported or offered a helping hand. I say again, what a guy and what a legacy he leaves.

Not only was he involved in countless business ventures, he was also a hero to his outstanding family. I know how proud he was of you and thought you were capable of anything and everything and it seems you have lived up to those expectations.

Such is the human condition, we live our lives the best we can, and then we go on to the next life.  Al lived his life, he was an exceptional man, happy in his success but always humble and self-deprecating. I’m so grateful that I knew him and his family, that I had the opportunity to work for him and that I considered him a friend.

Please give Barb and Rhonda a hug for me and tell them what they already know. That Al was an exceptional man and his passing will leave a huge hole in your lives, as well as in the lives of many.

With sincere sympathy to all of you,

Pearl

Memories! Oh Yes! We have them!

If we could have bottled up Al’s enthusiasm for life – we could give it to people who need – a “boost” in life.

He was a true adventurer – seeking out life – like an explorer – choosing his twists and turns on the “river of life” and when people say Al was “one of a kind”, they weren’t kidding. There was only one Al and there will only ever be one.

Al made the world a better place for a lot of people – and sometimes treaded on places – where others feared to go.

Al had the ability to see things in a different way – and to change them for the better.

He lifted up people in his presence and became a part of their lives – some through business, friendships, or humanity.  Always with a unique sense of humor.

He will be greatly missed by all!

Elmer & Merne Arndt

Always enjoyed taking Al on the boat. He was always a good time. Will miss his stories.

Always felt very welcomed in this man’s presence. I say that about the entire family as well. Have always enjoyed my time at the Side’s place. Rest in peace Al and heart felt condolences to all the family.

I have known Al for 48 years and enjoyed his company at work and at his home with Barb. I had the privilege of a visit with him on October 10th for 3 hours at the farm and at the horse track Casino for lunch. Our conversation come around to the time he took me out to see the farm when he first bought it. The only building on the property was the original house, a prefabbed catalogue order from a company in Toronto which the owner had built back in the 1930’s. He was 96 years old and living in a retirement home when he sold it to Al. Al and I went though the place which had many old magazines, National Geographic & Readers Digest, from the 30’s & 40’s, lying around. Al wanted to get on with building his new home on the property and burnt this old house down much to the concern of the RCMP and local fire department. His comment to me at our last lunch together was ” I shouldn’t have burned that place down. All that real old lumber I probably could have sold for a good buck”. We had a good laugh.
So many great memories.
My condolences to you Barb and to all your family. And thank you for the many times you had to put up with me for dinner. I live in Edmonton but still visit Grande Prairie and Al would have me over for dinner giving Barb little notice.

“If you can fill the unforgiving moment, with sixty seconds worth of distance run…”  Kipling

This is so Al.

Every moment lived and none wasted on things that did not matter.

I first met Al shortly after I started to work at Northern Metalic. It was lunchtime, and the office was deserted; I was sitting by the window watching the traffic. Suddenly, I saw this “old farmer” come walking down the hall from Linda’s office. He saw me, smiled, sauntered over, and sat opposite me. We began talking about the weather and soon were chatting away, watching the world go by. He was there maybe 1/2 hour and got up and said he needed to go home to see “his bride” and hoped that I liked working here and we would chat another day. I only learned later that day who he was.

A few years later, he came into the office all spiffed up. I commented that he looked good; he put his thumbs under his suspenders and said, “I clean up pretty good,” smiling away. He was always so friendly no matter where or who you were.

My husband started working for Al on the farm about six years ago; he greatly respected him. Some days, he would come home and tell me about the drive he and “Ol AlleyCat” had and some of the stories (I wished I was a fly in the vehicle with them). I’m sure there may have been some scheming, but I am not sure who was the bad influence with them.

We would almost always run into him on the weekend when we went to feed the horses. He loved the colts and was so proud of them; he couldn’t wait to see if they would be a good runner. We had a lot of good talks across the fence from the ponies, and he truly had a way with them. The one time he and Charlie were trying to move a couple, and this one was a real pain; he didn’t get upset or anything, just “had a little talk” with her.

He always said when it was time to leave, he had to go see “his bride.” After 69 years, their love for each other was as strong and sweet as ever.

Our condolences go to Grandma and Al’s family and friends; there will be a great void wherever his footsteps travelled.

I loved this man! Got to meet him, through my role as sports reporter for the Daily Herald-Tribune, when he was supporting chuckwagon racing in the early-1970s and last got to say hi in the summer at the races at Evergreen Park. I enjoyed the fact, right up until the last time I saw him, he always called me Moonbeams – the name of the sports column I wrote that ended in the 1980s. A little something he knew would bring a smile to both our faces. Huge loss for horse racing and the community!

WPCA Saddened By The News That Longtime Active Supporter Al Side Has Passed On

I did not get to know Al that well, but running into him at head office, NMS, or just out and about was always a pleasure. He always seemed to have a smile on his face and was happy to share some wisdom in the form of a story, an idea, or a tidbit of knowledge. The first time I met Al was a short 8.5-9 years ago, working at GP Reload when he came into the facility to meet with Gord. Al had shown up early while Gord was at a meeting or lunch and was wandering the building, saying “Hello!” to everyone and introducing himself to new faces. It always stuck with me that when I (with only a few months at the company) walked over to see who this man was that was wandering through the warehouse, he introduced himself by name only, with no fancy titles, and only after a few minutes of polite, casual conversation he said: “I’m here to meet with Gord, I’m his business partner.”

That was who Al was; he was friendly and cheerful, and despite how important he was to so many people, businesses, and employees, he was still just Al when he talked to you. I will always remember that.

Deepest condolences to Al’s wife, Barb; and to their children and grandchildren, extended family and friends. Hope you enjoy these photos of Al and Barb with their mares and foals. Back in the day, Al and Barb would occasionally pop in on their “fancy” neighbors for a visit. On one such occasion we had wine to offer them, but apparently it was the kind that should be chilled. I dropped a “Mr. Freezie” in each of their glasses and poured them a drink. Barb laughed and used her Freezie like a fancy swizzle stick. We know those two were “peas and carrots” and this is a huge loss for Barb and family. Thinking of you all during this difficult time, Carolyn and Hugh Sinclair

Uncle Al was one of a kind in so many ways and generous beyond words. On two occasions, he and Aunt Barb hosted Side Family reunions at the farm in Grande Prairie that were memorable for the large extended family. In 2005, for the first time, the offspring of Alex and Latifa Side came together from as far away as South Africa and Australia to spend three days together. The next reunion was organized by Al’s family for his 80th birthday celebration. Once again family gathered from far and wide and the hospitality extended was remarkable. I always regret living so far away because I would have loved to have spent time getting better acquainted with Uncle Al. He was the patriarch and it’s very hard to say goodbye. He will be missed beyond words.

I was on one of those little planes that went into the fishing lodge at Margaret Lake. On one occasion I had my son Derek with me, he was about 12.  We landed and one of the first people my son met was Al, he grabbed Derek and they spent the day at the mouth of the Pon Ton fishing for grayling. My son was so proud of their catch and his new fishing pal. Rest in peace my friend.

Here’s Al with his great grandson Oliver. What a great guy. We’ll all miss him.

My sympathies to the Side family especially Doug & Debbie, Al was a great man and you always felt special in his presence.

I can’t begin to say how much I will miss Al. He was a great friend to both my husband and I and ensured I could continue in the thoroughbred business after my husband’s passing. He was a mentor to me, and together, we were breeding the next great generation. It meant so much to me that he and Barb could attend this year’s Thoroughbred sale in Red Deer, and the delight on his face when those yearlings “Crazy” yearlings showed their love to Barb, is impossible to forget. He was so looking forward to racing them, and I spoke to him the Thursday before he flew out. The excitement in his voice for 2024 was contagious on the telephone! I know these babies will do him proud, and they will have an angel looking over them. Fly High, Al you will be missed.

My condolences to Barb and family. I have many memories of Barb and Al we’ve lost touch over the years I’m sad for that. Please know Barb I’m thinking of you I’m so sad for you’re loss.

With love Laura Remus

Have known the family pretty much my whole life, used to do inventory counts as a kid at Northern Metalic on 100th Street, and get donuts from Al, a great guy. Our heartfelt condolences to all the family.

Heard some wonderful stories from Alexus and Jarred.
We are truly sorry for your loss. Condolences to your beautiful family, extended family, and friends.