Sidney, B.C. - Long time Alberni Valley resident Stanley Edward Banner passed away peacefully on May 19, 2026, in Sidney, B.C.

Stan grew up in Duncan and Victoria and took a job as a copy boy for The Colonist to support his mother and sisters while his father was enlisted in the Canadian military. He trained as a pipefitter at Yarrow Shipyards. He met his future wife Hélène through friends at the Catholic Youth Organization in Victoria and they soon became a growing family. After a series of jobs constructing industrial plants around B.C.'s southwest coast, he found permanent employment at the McMillan Bloedell pulp mill in Port Alberni. He brought his family to join him in 1959, and worked in the mill for many productive years.

Active in the city's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, he participated in many projects to raise funds for charitable causes in the city and in other countries.

Stan made friends across the community, who will remember his generous nature and gentle good humour, as well as his love of good food and interesting wines.

Stan enjoyed building his family cabin on Sproat Lake and fishing the lakes and the Alberni Inlet. He could often be found poring over his collections of stamps, coins and wooden nickels.

After retiring from the pulp mill, Stan and Hélène moved to Sidney in 2001, where they both continued to support the church's global work and local activities. Stan was also a longtime volunteer at Beacon Community Services. He looked forward to playing games of bridge, both as casual player and chief coffee maker at Sidney's Shoal Centre. An avid walker, he participated in many TC10K walks with his children in Victoria.

Stan was saddened by the loss of his wife in 2023 but developed many new friendships at his new home in the Peninsula seniors residence in Sidney. He remained healthy and engaged until a brief illness at the age of 98 and a half.

Stan leaves behind a legacy of friends and charitable works, as as well as five children and their four spouses, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial mass will be held on Thursday, May 28 at 11:00 am at St. Elizabeth parish church in Sidney.