Family, friends and colleagues of MaryAnne Arcand gathered at the First Baptist Church on Saturday to celebrate her life.
Arcand, 59, died on March 17 after a stroke on Feb. 16 lead doctors to discovery she had advanced cancer.
Arcand was known provincially for her work as an advocate for forest industry safety with the B.C. Forest Safety Council, Central Interior Logging Association and as founder of the Carbon Offsets Aggregation Cooperative, and for her volunteer work with the Rotary Club of Prince George Downtown.
Arcand's sister, Mayor Patricia Cecchini of Fruitvale, said Arcand was nicknamed The Bulldozer for her direct, no-nonsense, results-oriented approach.
"She was a bulldozer in that she never stopped working and didn't take 'no' for an answer. But she never bulldozed people," Cecchini said. "My sister left us with inspiration and courage. She saw what needed to be done, and did it."
Cecchini said Arcand could be blunt, wasn't shy about sharing her opinion and was fluent "in the language of the truckers," even in her final days as they discussed plans for her funeral.
"She told me to give a 'kickass eulogy on her behalf... and don't make it sappy,'" Cecchini said. "When I said it would be hard for me... she told me 'stop complaining, and get it done. I've got cancer, all you have to do is a speech.'"
But despite her bluff nature and larger-than-life personality, Arcand was caring and humble -always willing to give credit to others, she said.
She campaigned tirelessly to improve safety practices in the forestry -to change the idea that fatal accidents were an unavoidable part of the industry.
"Many in the forest industry believe there are dozens of people alive today because of her. MaryAnne used to say people don't have to die because they go to work," Cecchini said. "[But] she rarely took credit for any of the work she did."
Arcand was quick to share credit with former forestry minister Pat Bell and MLA Shirley Bond -both of whom attended the service, along with mayors, union leaders, and current and former city councillors - she said.
In her personal life she was funny, loved to sing and play guitar, and was a dedicated volunteer, Cecchini said.
Harald Bartel, Arcand's eldest son, said his mother loved music and loved to share music with the youth organizations she volunteered with.
"Nothing brought joy to my mom like playing guitar and singing with the youth," Bartel said.
In a letter from the Prince George Brain Injured Group read by Bartel, said Arcand quickly became the organizations "ally, colleague and friend."
Arcand was an annual participant in the camps held by the advocacy group.
"We will sing to you at the campfire this year. If you cannot hear the words, at least hear the feelings sent," the letter said.
While they didn't have much money growing up, "mom could always make something out of nothing," Bartel said.
"I think I had the richest childhood," he said. "Mom taught us to think big. The sky is not the limit, you can go higher. She said to be real - talk to people, not at them. To stand up for yourself, and others. My mom brought joy to everyone -some when she walked in, and some when she walked out."
Garry Shearer, Rotary district governor for B.C., said the service club was very fortunate to have, "hitched our brand to MaryAnne Arcand."
"Rotary has many avenues of service for Rotarians to follow, but MaryAnne chose youth. i believe MaryAnne belived youth are an investment in our future," Shearer said.
Arcand was part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and as local Rotary president helped create the Big Blue Ball fundraiser for prostate cancer programs and men's health.
"I'm a better person for knowing you MaryAnne, and you will always be in my thoughts," Shearer said.
Rev. Cal Malena, lead pastor at the First Baptist Church, lead the memorial service for Arcand. Arcand was a personal friend, he said, and a woman of great religious faith.
"She was a remarkable leader in our community," Malena said. "She wanted to make the world a better place. There is a lot of movers and shakers in the world... some are driven by personal ambition. [But] I never saw that in MaryAnne."
She was inspired by her faith to do good in the world he said. And she believed strongly that although her life here was ending, a new adventure waited for her in the afterlife.
"When I think of MaryAnne, she was someone who was willing to let her light shine," he said. "The last thing MaryAnne whispered to me, the last time we were able to have a conversation in the hospice house, was 'see you on the other side.'"
Arcand was survived by her parents, Bill and Ditty DeWitt, husband, George Arcand, their four children Harald Bartel, Willy Bartel, Tina Neufeld and Melanie Lockington, and their 10 grandchildren.
