Vass, Peter (Pete) Ian

Peter (Pete) Ian Vass passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at the Victorian Community Health Centre in Kaslo. He will be remembered and missed by many friends here in the West Kootenays.

Pete was born in East Yor, Ontario, on March 8, 1947. He spent his formative years in Ontario where he began his career as a crane operator. He moved west as a young man and settle in Calgary where among other things took up stunt driving on dirt bikes (known as Insane Ian). Pete’s work as a crane operator took him near and far in Western Canada and he eventually settled in Kaslo, BC, after making the journey to visit a friend.

Pete was an active member of the Kaslo community. He was a member of the Kaslo Volunteer Fire Department, Kaslo Search and Rescue and served as a Councillor to the Village of Kaslo. Pete loved his time in the arena. He coached the Kaslo ladies’ hockey team (The Kootenay Lakers) over several successful seasons, taking the team to the provincials several times. Pete resided in Nelson and Castlegar for his final years where he continued to lend his time to both the Castlegar Rebels and Nelson Leafs as a security guard. He will be remembered by all for his dedication and sense of humour (Pete loved a good joke).

An avid outdoorsman, Pete’s happy place was at the Kaslo River mouth casting for dollies. He didn’t particularly like eating fish so he would share his catch with friends and residents at the Aby Manor in Kaslo.

We will miss his big smile and big heart.

There will be a gathering of friends and loved ones to be announced later