It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of our son, brother, uncle and good friend, Brian. Brian is survived by his parents, Ron and Fay Baldwin of Swift Current, Saskatchewan; his brother, Blair (Norain) and their children, Jeffrey and Erin of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and his sister, Barb (Cam Wallace) and their children, Charlotte and Jack of Waterloo, Ontario; as well as numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.
Brian was born on July 1, 1964 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He spent part of his childhood in Blaine Lake, where he tirelessly tended an acres full of birdhouses, and planted his very first garden. It was here that his love of birds and nature was born. Brian was an observer from an early age, and was constantly searching for new plants and shifting them to new locations. To his mother's amusement, even his transplanted pigweeds grew and thrived.
He later attended his primary and high school in Swift Current. He spent a great deal of time at Speedy Creek, on his own, or with friends, often spending the entire day fishing, playing in the water, and riding his bike. Brian found his passion in horticulture, and it never waned throughout his life. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Masters of Science in Horticulture. He was fascinated by trees in particular, and knew the history of every notable tree in the city of Saskatoon.
He was never happier than when sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with others, whether standing in front of a classroom, or on one of his justly popular tours of the campus grounds. If horticulture was Brian's passion, teaching was his gift. He had a rare talent for communication, whether in print or in person, conveying often complex ideas with clarity, precision and humour (and occasionally in verse). He enjoyed a great rapport with his students, some of whom remained in contact with him years after leaving his classes. They were very lucky to have him as a teacher.
Brian's appreciation for beauty was not confined to the natural world: he loved music, travel, art, architecture and good food. His trip to England and France in 2007 combined many of these, and was one of his most treasured experiences.
To the public, Brian was best known as an accomplished writer brilliant, articulate, knowledgeable and funny, with a (firmly held) opinion on every subject. His gardening articles were widely read throughout the province, while his songs and poetry were enjoyed by a smaller, but no less appreciative audience.
They will be fondly remembered; he will be sorely missed.
A celebration of Brian's life will be held on Thursday, April 9th at 3:00 p.m. in Saskatoon at the Faculty Club on the University of Saskatchewan Campus.
(See more posts on Brian here)
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