Kenneth "Ken" Sortland

After a ten-year battle with cancer, Ken passed away on May 26. It’s hard to capture a life so full in just a few words, but if you knew Ken, you know he was not defined by just one thing.

Ken was born and raised in Edmonton, together with his three brothers. He enjoyed cabin experiences at Calling Lake and adventures with their cousins on the Sortland homestead in Consort. Graduating from the Victoria Comp High School, Ken continued his formal education at the University of Alberta where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He was a keen swimmer, achieved certification to teach and to lifeguard in the pool and went on to enjoy scuba diving. After graduating from U of A, Ken moved to Calgary to start his 47-year career in the Pipeline Construction industry. He was well respected amongst those he worked with and befriended. His “hands on” work experience with Henuset Pipeline Company was the foundation he gained as he went on to work and learn with Alberta Gas Trunkline, Imperial Oil, Exxon, and Trans Canada. Ken formed his own consulting company in 2004.

While in University, Ken met Ruth, whom he later married when they re-connected in Calgary. Together, Ken and Ruth raised three children, Darren, Christopher and Heather, “the perfect family” (his words). He enjoyed living and working internationally. He believed his children’s education was greatly enhanced by their exposure to various cultures and travel. His work took him to Malaysia, Chile, Argentina, Mexico and the United States.

Ken enjoyed numerous activities with both family and friends: golf, curling, scuba diving, down hill skiing, building and flying remote control airplanes, and most of all storytelling. His greatest joy was building his cabin at Tie Lake. He didn’t just build the cabin with wood and nails; he built with heart and your sweat. His children, his family and his friends were all called into service. With a focus to complete various tasks, he looked forward to gathering his friends to the cabin for his annual ‘‘Boy’s Weekend.” His own work ethic spread out to everyone around him - if he could see you, he put you to work.

Ken liked to think that our family has grown into a mini United Nations: Darren married Melanie from France, Christopher married Sabrina from Argentina, and Heather married Travis, a home grown Canadian who fortunately for Ken came with a backhoe. These three loving couples gave us Rose, Sebastian, Pearl, Avalon, Sofia, Louis and Walker. Surely one of them will become an Engineer.

Ken built numerous cornhole game sets and ensured that our friends, family, and cabin neighbours were fully equipped. He initiated the Tie Lake Corn Hole Championship Tourney, soon to become an Olympic event. Ken loved sitting on the deck at his cabin watching his grandkids playing volleyball and clowning around.   

An avid reader, Ken made a practice of writing short anecdotal stories of his own life exploits. He started to write a book, a legacy for his grandchildren. Unfortunately, he finished the book too soon and was able to distribute it to everyone he had ever met. We have all been subject to: “Have you read my book?” and “It’s in the book.”  The final line in his book reads: “It is a grandpa’s job to corrupt the fertile young minds of his grandkids” - Ken did his best!

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation through this link: https://my.childrenshospital.ab.ca/kensortland

Please join us for Ken’s Celebration of Life on Monday, June 16th at 1:30 p.m. at McKenzie Meadows Golf Club 17215 McKenzie Meadows Drive SE Calgary.