From my earliest memories, my mom’s youngest brother, Uncle Archie was somewhat of a hero in our family, and to me in particular. We didn’t get to see him often but each visit was a family event. I remember his wedding day and a few brief visits to Denfield but most of all I treasure the few times as a young girl that I was able to stay with he and Aunt Judy and their growing family. Uncle Arch would keep me in stitches with the antics of “Mervin Wicket” a fictitious character who was always up to no good. There was never a dull moment in their home, especially the times that I stayed with Judy and the kids while Arch was away on some assignment or other.

While in my nursing training, I would often spend my holidays in Ottawa and looked to Archie and Judy for advice and an understanding of my family history and how the Barr family worked. I listened to Archie’s stories of the exotic places that he had visited and that only served to fuel my desire to explore the world. I will always treasure, even the very difficult nights I spent with Arch at Judy’s bedside in London, as he supported and encouraged her and spoke so dearly of his love for Judy and the family they had together. I have watched with such respect over the years as Arch and Beverley taught us all how deal with loss and physical struggles with courage and dignity. He took every aspect of his life very seriously and developed a deep and abiding faith in God and love for all that He created.  My thoughts and prayers are with Beverley, Charlie, Peter, Linda and Heather and their families as they say their final good-byes and honour the life that he lived.

ARCHIE McARTHUR BARR (1935-2012) From his humble beginnings as a Winnipeg farm boy, Archie joined the RCMP in 1953. Through his strong convictions and keen intellect, he quickly developed a reputation within the intelligence community, culminating with him attending the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies in London, England in 1979-1980. Archie rose to the rank of Chief Superintendent of the RCMP and went on to become one of the founding Directors of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). After working as a high-level consultant for the Federal Government, he retired to his small private investigating service specializing in genealogical research. He will be profoundly missed by his family and extensive network of friends for his perception and intelligence, his fierce loyalty, and his mischievous sense of humor. “Your woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep” Sleep well, Old Horse.