Gerard Henri “Rusty” CHARTIER
Born in the Red Cross Hospital in Loon Lake, Saskatchewan on March 8, 1933, the first child of Gerard (Sam) Chartier and Elizabeth (Betty) Rantz, Rusty (Gerard Henri) Chartier spent the early years of his life on the family’s nearby homestead at Rapid View. During his long and full life, Rusty never lost that connection to the land and all that it can provide; and the importance of family and community.
Rusty had a strong faith and left this world with family by his side on October 10, 2019 at the age of 86 to join his parents; his brothers Ronald “Pappy” and Ken; his grandson Jordan; his sister-in-law Alice and his brother-in-law Tony.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Georgiana (nee Champagne); his children Adrien (Brigitte), Greg (Lori), Marc (Yvette), Cathrine, Dave (Joanne), Michelle (John) and Danielle; his grandchildren Michael (Cynthia), Kereena, Dylan (Tanya), Aaron (Cate), Lucas, Mackenzie (Eric), Halie(Mitch), Rourke, Caylen, Hennessey, Leadan, Jake, Madigan and Ophelia; and his great-grandchildren Maxwell, Oscar, Oliver, Archer and Owen; and his siblings Basil, Yvonne, Brian (Linda) and Tom (Clara); brothers-in-law Peter (Betty) and Paul (Diane); sister-in-law Barbara; Sharon Chartier, Lorie Hrycuik and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rusty’s family moved to Saskatoon during WWII when it became too hard for his mother to manage the homestead while his father served in the Air Force. He attended St. Mary’s School and Tech Collegiate. As a young man, he played for the Saskatoon Hilltops and was part of the team when they won the Dominion Championship in 1953. He met Georgiana, who would become his wife, at St. Paul’s Hospital where she was his nurse following a skating mishap. Rusty worked with his dad at Fyfe Equipment as a heavy-duty mechanic until he joined the Saskatoon Police Department in April 1960. He served as a police officer in many capacities from patrol officer walking the beat, to detective to loss prevention specialist including a secondment to Federated Co-op. Rusty was informed through policing that those marginalized by society needed compassion and a voice. He also learned on the job the importance of speaking up when you believed something needed to be said.
After retirement in 1988, he ran for mayor. The issues on his mind in those days were his strong feeling that a new arena should be built downtown to foster its revitalization, and the importance of community policing. He felt that if you wanted to see change you had to mold consensus and pursue it with great vigour. He felt government had a role to play in making lives better for all. He put his belief in social democracy into action as a life long CCF/NDP member, social activist and volunteer. He was never shy about sharing his well-researched and carefully considered opinions, and his many letters to the editor serve as evidence to this. He closely followed civic politics, often attending City Council and speaking to issues. Rusty was often ahead of the curve, whether it was his position on community policing; his focus on urban agriculture and food security; or as an early environmentalist long before that term was ever popularized. For a man with a Grade 10 education, he was incredibly well-read and was always willing to learn and grow.
Rusty was involved with many community organizations doing work that he felt was getting to the heart of what the issues really were – education, housing, employment, and food security – and was especially happy if these organizations had a cooperative bent. To that end, he was a co-founder of the Core Neighbourhood Youth Coop (CNYC) in the hope of engaging young people in the core communities. As well, fostering small business was important to Rusty, and he was a founding member of the Saskatoon Home-Based Business Association. For his service to the community, he received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee award in 2002.
Rusty and Georgie had a greenhouse that evolved from a hobby to a small home-based business and were founding members of the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market. Aside from his yard and greenhouse where he could be found until just a year ago when he moved into long-term care, the market had been one of Rusty’s favorite places. He spent 33 years of Saturday mornings selling well-nurtured plants and visiting with the many patrons and friends he had in the community. He could usually be found with a child/grandchild or two on busy market mornings – a rite of passage in the Chartier family, learning about plants, community and entrepreneurship.
Nothing was more important to Rusty than family. In a small house on Avenue O that he and Georgie built, they raised seven kids; supported foster kids; nurtured grandkids and great-grandkids; and made a home for a bevy of pets including his beloved dog Macy. There was rarely a grandchild’s activity that Grandpa Rusty and Grandma Georgie ever missed. He was a nurturing and loving father of whom his children and grandchildren have so many fond (and funny) memories – the many adventures in the red family station wagon; Sunday trips to Red Berry Lake; the massive canvas tent that held nine; spur-of-the-moment trips to visit friends in Leask; and the years tending a mixed farm at Moon Lake. His cinnamon toast/French toast-making skills were unparalleled; Dad-kids Sunday night swimming trips were so much fun; his Smarties packs were always grandchild-appreciated; his singing voice was not his strength but Clementine was still a kid-pleaser; and his MacGyver-like recycle and repair skills were always remarkable. Rusty/Dad/Grandpa will be so dearly missed.
A Liturgy of the Word celebrating Rusty’s life will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22 at St. John Bosco Catholic Parish (1202 Avenue O South, Saskatoon). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CNYC (903 – 20th St. W, Saskatoon S7M 0Y5) or Quint Development Corporation (101 – 1120 – 20th St W, Saskatoon, S7M 0Y8). Arrangements are in care of Chelsea Krentz – Mourning Glory Funeral Services (306) 978-5200 www.mourningglory.ca
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Rusty Gerard Henri Chartier October 10 2019..
Mourning Glory Funeral Services
Death notice for the town of: Saskatoon, Province: Saskatchewan