Arne Haaland

Arne Haaland, beloved brother, uncle, father and grandfather, passed away on October 11, 2026, at the age of 86.

A civil engineer by training, Arne had his roots in Norway and was proud to make Canada his chosen home. 

Arne had a lifelong love of the outdoors and lived life with great enthusiasm. An adventurous spirit, he hiked to the base camp of Everest, sailed across the Atlantic, cycled the coast of Norway and excelled at cross-country skiing, completing the 160km Coureur des Bois bronze, silver and gold levels of the Canadian Ski Marathon.  His travels took him to both Antarctica and the Northwest Passage and he delighted in sharing photos and stories of his experiences with loved ones. 

Arne enjoyed paddling and woodworking – hobbies he combined by lovingly crafting a cedar-strip tandem kayak often strapped to the roof of the car for long paddles on sunny Summer days. His basement workshop was also put to good use crafting handmade gifts for family, friends and new neighbours.

Arne was devoted to his family, sharing with genuine joy the successes of loved ones, offering his myriad practical skills whenever needed and showing up to help shoulder the burden of sorrows when difficult times came. 

Through his gentle and stoic example, Arne taught generosity of spirit, true joy in small things, and meeting adversity with both grace and determination. 

Arne embodied personal integrity, true kindness, and – in his later years – an unshakable faith in the beauty of a quiet life well lived. He will be so very dearly missed. 

Arne is survived by his daughter, Kim Haaland; his son, Kevin Haaland (Linda née Brunet); his sister, Solveig Pedersen (Bjoern); his sister-in-law, Signe Haaland; and his five grandchildren, Kiersten Hall, Anika Hall, Kaari Hall, Matthew Haaland, and Daniel Haaland (Laura née Dunlop).

Memorial Arrangements 

A celebration of life will be planned for a later date. 

Memorial Donations 

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Arne’s memory to Citizen Advocacy (now renamed ABLE2) where he volunteered for over 40 years.