Lance Holland

It is with the heaviest of hearts we share the passing of Lance Holland on July 28th, 2025.

Lance was a cherished husband, adoring father (lovingly referred to as Lacey by his daughters) and proud grandfather (called “Happy”). He was also a brilliant engineer.

Lance was born on February 25th, 1955, in Princeton, BC and grew up in Regina, SK. He completed his electrical engineering degree from The University of Toronto, and Calgary eventually became home. Lance’s job took him and his family all over the world. Notable places to mention are: Tuktoyaktuk, Libya, Kuwait, and Yemen.

Lance had a passion for travelling, and he was able to explore the world with his wife and daughters. Favourite spots of his included: Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. He especially enjoyed quiet and slow days out on Vancouver Island with a Baileys and coffee or sitting at his perfectly engineered and constructed fire pit. It was always ice cream o’clock.

Lance (Lacey) was the BEST Dad. He was loving, kind, engaged and gentle. He was readily available, reliable and always willing to help. Lacey was a safe place to fall though all of lives ups and downs. And behind this quiet, type A, stoic man, was a silly and playful soul.

Lance received a beautiful letter from a friend and former colleague, who has graciously given us permission to share. We want to thank you, Steve Hunt (& family), for writing such a poignant, and perfectly encompassing summary of how Lance approached his life, family and career. This letter will bring us great comfort when our hearts are overwhelmed with the grief and the void that we now must live with in his absence:

“Lance brought not only his technical talent to every challenge, but a steady, thoughtful presence that ensured his teams were successful. Precision, creativity, kindness, and compassion lived side by side in his work, and it showed in everything he touched. His work ethic was unmistakable — whether it was answering important emails from a cruise ship or working late into the night, he never let his teammates down. Letting others down simply wasn’t in his nature. It wasn’t just engineering — he built trust, clarity, and confidence in every team he was a part of.

Lance treated people with a kind of quiet dignity and warmth that made a difference every single day. Whether mentoring a new engineer, navigating a crisis, or simply listening — he made people feel heard and valued. He always responded with grace and quiet strength. And he was generous too — when there was credit to be given, it was never about him. It was always about the team. His compassion was not loud, but it was constant, and in many ways, it was his finest achievement.

Lance leaves behind a community of colleagues and friends who hold him in the highest esteem. His name will always be spoken of with respect, admiration, and deep gratitude for the kindness and selflessness he showed every day.” (This has been edited/summarized).

In 2022, Lance was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). All of the characteristics, quirks, and traits which made up his wonderful personality were slowly being stripped away from him. Dementia is a cruel, unrelenting and heartbreaking disease, and as a result, he made the brave decision to utilize medical assistance in death (MAiD).

With dignity, and surrounded by pure love, Lance gently passed while holding his wife and daughter’s hands.

Lance is survived by his wife Catherine, daughters Sarah (Kimball) and Emily (Ian, aka Pilot Dude) and grandchildren: Sloane, Fischer and McKinley.

We would like to extend our eternal gratitude to Dr. Jillian Arnold (and her team), for helping our family to navigate MAiD, and for treating Lance with gentle grace and respect through this life transition.

The Holland, Robinson, Bishop, and Stewart Families would like to thank Emily Holland for her beautiful words in writing her Dads obituary. We all will carry this in our heart

Thanks Emmy ♥️♥️

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