![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976186.1721847997!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
'Mr. Arnprior': Glenn Arthur dies at 72
The town of Arnprior is mourning the loss of community pillar Glenn Arthur.
Arthur's death on Feb. 16 was described as sudden and unexpected. A cause of death is unknown.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Arthur was 72, and is survived by his wife, three children, and nine grandchildren.
"He loved helping," says his wife Kathy Arthur. "He loved helping the kids."
Arthur spent 35 years leading Arnprior's recreation department, and was integral in bringing in and running youth sports programs, seniors' activities, sports tournaments, festivals, parades, and public facilities such as ice pads and the pool.
"I always said, well, if anything happened to him, I would know that he died happy because that was his life, his work," Kathy Arthur said.
In retirement, Arthur was also a recognized volunteer, and had an arena at the
Nick Smith Centre named after him, as well as a day in Arnprior proclaimed in his honour.
Speaking with CTV News after receiving Arnprior's Volunteer of the Year award on July 1, 2023, Arthur said the following about what motivated him to help his community:
"Anything that can make people smile, in a nutshell. It doesn't really matter what it is. If you could do something to help people enjoy themselves and smile, that's really what it's all about."
CTV's Dylan Dyson speaks to Arnprior's Glenn Arthur on July 1, 2023 after Arthur was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award. (Arnprior Mayor Lisa McGee/Supplied)
Arthur's daughter Erin says the day after her father's passing she found herself drawn to the Nick Smith Centre for a local hockey game.
"I went to the arena, the Rivermen's game on Saturday night to work for the Nick Smith Centre. But I had to be where he was, where he is, and it was very nice to have people approach you and tell you their stories."
She says being around people, with children, and at the rink were what made her father happiest.
"My dad was my mentor, my hero, and the man I looked up to my entire life," said Erin. "I've said when I was a little kid and I'll say it today that when I grew up I want to be like my dad."
Filling Arthur's shoes as Arnprior's current Director of Recreation is Graeme Ivory.
"He was just the guy that took care of everything," he says. "So I guess whether you want to call him Mr. Arnprior or Mr. Everything, that was Glenn Arthur."
Ivory says he only spent a four-month transition period under Arthur learning the role, adding that picking up 35 years of experience in four months was impossible, but Arthur was always available for advice.
"His dedication, his commitment, his passion for his community, for family, it's something that I think all of us can aspire to."
Flags in Arnprior have been lowered to half-mast for the week, a move normally reserved for current staff or council members.
Arnprior Mayor Lisa McGee said Arthur's death is an exceptional circumstance.
"He was and he is in every corner of this community, his impact is felt whether you knew him or not. Your life in Arnprior was better because he was here."
A wake is being held Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Pilon Family Funeral Home in Arnprior from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (https://pilonfamily.ca/tribute/details/3166/Glenn-Archie-Arthur/obituary.html)
The funeral service for Arthur will be held Sunday, Feb. 25 at noon at the Nick Smith Centre in the Glenn Arthur Arena.
McGee says the service for Arthur may be the closest thing to a state funeral the town will ever see.
"The anticipation is that this town has probably never seen nearly as many people show up for a service and quite possibly may never again."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.