It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Dad and Papa, Ronald James Burnett. Ron soaked in one last magnificent view and filled his lungs with one last rush of mountain air on Cascade Mountain in Banff, Alberta on Monday, August 28, 2023. While Ron's passing from this life has brought about an inconceivable sadness for those he has left behind, his heart was inherently bound to the Rocky Mountains and thus it seems fitting that it took its final beat there.

Ron was born on January 27, 1959, in Calgary, Alberta and was the second youngest in a family of five children. In the late 80's, Ron began working as a bartender at Glenn's Cafe and Memories Bar where he developed close, lifelong friendships with his coworkers and customers. It was also during his time at Glenn's that Ron crossed paths with a waitress named Michele, with whom he would eventually end up falling in love. Ron and Michele got married in August of 1991 and proceeded to build a life and raise a family together. For Ron, there would never be any personal feat great enough to bring him more pride than watching his three kids grow to become healthy, successful adults.

Ron had an insatiable appetite for adventure that no one else in his life could quite keep up with, causing him to grow quite fond of independent expeditions. In his younger years, Ron's restless legs carried him around the globe, with his most memorable travels consisting of a solo trip to England and a trip to Korea accompanied by his father-in-law, Chuck. Showing no interest in settling down in his sixties, he spent nearly every weekend of the last year of his life embarking on all sorts of outdoor excursions. These often included hikes in the mountains of Banff, Canmore, and Kananaskis, walks along the river with his little dog and best friend Maggie, visits to the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary or the Calgary Zoo, or sometimes simply wandering around in -40°C, testing out the endurance of his latest winter gear. Though there was often no one there to experience these adventures with him, Ron's love for photography allowed him to capture thousands of glimpses of his favourite moments (which included many sunsets, landscapes, and animals) to bring home and share with those who missed out.

While Ron thoroughly enjoyed his solo escapades, there was nothing in the world that meant more to him than the people and critters he shared his life with. He'd trade a trip around the world for breakfast at iHop with his family, a hike in the mountains for coffee and a trip to Costco with his kids, a walk by the river for a short visit with a friend or family member, and a day of testing winter gear for the chance to help shovel a neighbour's car out of ten feet of snow. One of his favourite people in the entire world was his mother, Daisy, whom he visited faithfully until her passing in the spring of 2023.

If there's one thing that those who had the great privilege of knowing Ron could agree on, it's that there was no one else on the planet more willing to drop everything to help another person – whether it was a stranger on the street or one of his own children. He will forever be remembered for his goofy personality and great sense of humour, his enormous heart and unparalleled benevolence, and his admiration of nature and love for the outdoors.

Ron is survived by his brothers, Robert Burnett, Peter Burnett, and Gerald Burnett; his sister Julie Weins; his loving children Robert Burnett, Emma Burnett, and Noah Burnett; his wife Michele Burnett; his grandchildren Dominic Burnett and Alex Burnett; his nephew Anthony Burnett; and his niece Samantha Mayo.

He was predeceased by his father Peter Burnett and his mother Daisy Burnett.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary at www.yamnuskawolfdogsanctuary.com or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at www.aiwc.ca.

A Celebration of Ron's Life will be held at the Rosemont Community Centre, Main Hall ( 2807 10th Street NW, Calgary ) on Saturday, October 21, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.