Albert was born September 12, 1936 in Moose Lake, MB. Albert passed away with family by his side on Sunday, December 8th, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at the St. Anthony’s Hospital. Albert married Reta Evelyn Bignell on July 31, 1959 in The Pas, Manitoba, and together they raised 6 children, Brian, Marlene, David, Donna, Diane, and Ric. Albert and Evelyn lost their son, David, in 1970 at the age of 6 years. In 2007, Albert’s health started to decline, when he was diagnosed with auto immune hepatitis that contributed to his terminal illness of auto-immune cirrhosis. He spent his last years at the McGillivary Care Home. Albert lived in Moose Lake with his family until the age of 15. In his younger years, he completed his grade 3 and was never ashamed but rather very proud because he worked very hard in completing regular chores even as a young lad. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were his pride regarding education and always tried to encourage this, in addition, to always working hard and doing your best. Albert also had to learn how to speak English as he was only fluent in Cree. When he was a young man, the family used to have horses, and he loved caring for and riding them. He loved keeping dogs, he always had dogs most of his life. As a matter of fact, he raised an orphaned coyote, whom he called “koochie koo”. He and his brother Laddie loved training and weight lifting because he loved to keep fit. . He loved children, and was always kind to them. He used to play Santa Claus at the old Umpherville Hall, and when the children were telling Santa what they wanted, he kept saying “Huh? Huh?” because he was already starting to lose his hearing. He always fed the kids that came around the house. Albert was never one to remain idle and he was always on the go and forever keeping busy. He worked tirelessly from early morning to when he went to bed at night. He was always doing something. Albert was a weight lifter, a paddler, a dog musher, a marathon runner, a hockey player, a trapper, a fisherman, a miner, and a heavy equipment operator. He also helped build the Grand Rapids Dam in the early 60’s and Limestone Generating Station in the 80’s and the Wuskwatim Generating Station in the 2000’s. He also worked on road development of the highway from The Pas to Flin Flon, Pike Lake and the Carrot Valley D8 Road along with numerous other construction projects such as the Otineka Mall site development. Albert worked for the Town of The Pas as a Sanitation Truck Driver for many years. He did work for a while at CFI, now known as Tolko, but this job was sitting all day punching buttons, and he was not happy. He quit this job to do what he ended up doing for the rest of his healthy life, which is trapping and fishing. Albert also flew a plane with Tom Lamb, from Moose Lake to Hudson Bay, he was only 13 and was given the controls of the plane. An entire chapter regarding Albert was dedicated in a book called “The Unbeatable Breed” written by his friend, Bob Lowery. This book celebrated individuals of the North who have made outstanding achievements in their life time. Albert was very competitive and competed in many events. For several years, Albert ran his dogs at the annual Trapper’s Festival in The Pas. He was always competing with his friend, Walter Koshel, and during these events, they were always head to head. Some of these events were bannock baking, pole climbing, muskrat skinning, log sawing, tea boiling, all events to test the skills and knowledge of the trapper. They used to compete together in the snow shoe races as well. Albert finally won King Trapper in 1981. He also competed in the annual Thompson Winter Fest and was crowned “Okimow of the North” making it a double header that year. In 1988, Albert got a key to the city of Thompson because he ran to Thompson on his snow shoes. He did this to promote the Trapper’s Festival, as well as fundraise for the Trapper’s Festival. Albert was very proud of this accomplishment. In the summer, Albert loved to paddle in the World Championship Canoe Derby, at the Opaskwayak Indian Days, Flin Flon Trout Festival, and Umpherville Sports Days. He also paddled in competitions in the United States. He also competed in the Klondike Days in Edmonton, Alberta. He also partook in many competitions in the annual events such as flour packing, canoe packing, running races, etc. Albert ran the Manitoba Marathon on 3 occasions, completing the 26.3 miles each time. Albert loved the outdoors. For many years, he trapped at the Amisk and One Man Portage traplines on the Summerberry River. He loved net fishing and held his commercial fisherman license for close to 35 years. During trapping season, which he loved so much, he used to spend time down river to wait for the ice to freeze up. In the summer, he used to take his family down to his cabin on the Saskatchewan River where his children all learned to love the outdoors as well. His son-in-law, Donald, and daughter, Marlene, along with their trapper helper, John “Poochie” McGillivary, continue to trap at these traplines. His son, Ric and son-in-law Corey, also have his fishing license. These traditions will always remain in his family, in honour of Albert. In his later years, Albert really enjoyed attending wake services to sing and bring comfort to community members who were going through challenging times. He enjoyed singing, in fact, he was still singing hymns in his hospital bed right to the end. His favourite songs were “I Saw The Light” and “Come to Opaskwayak Indian Days” as well as #36 in the Cree Hymn Book – Kekepasakihitin. Albert was a self-made, independent, kind, caring, energetic, and compassionate man. He is survived by his wife, Reta Evelyn Ballantyne, son Brian (Karen)Ballantyne, daughter Marlene (Donald) Head, daughter Donna Flett, daughter Diane (Corey) Pelly and son Richard Ballantyne and adopted son Adam Richard. Grandchildren Noah (Michelle) Head, David (Priscilla) Head, Michael (Larissa) Head, Tyler Head, Dale Flett, Tahnee (Conway) Flett, Cody (Nicole) Flett, Jensen (Donovan) Flett, Spencer Flett, Everett Balfour, Kaitlin “Juicy” Balfour, Briana (Chad) Ballantyne, Conan Ballantyne, Maximus Ballantyne, Delaney Ballantyne. Great Grandchildren Ethan Head, Ruth Head, Dreyden Flett, Jayden Flett, Leighton Flett, and Peyton Flett, Tess Flett, Donovan Flett, and Rhett Albert Flett. Brothers Harvey Ballantyne, Laddie Ballantyne, and Harry Ballantyne, and sisters May Petrie, Linda Ballantyne , adopted sisters Marlene Campbell and Phyllis Ross. Albert is also survived by his brothers-in-law Philip Bignell, Bob Allan, sisters-in-law Anne Goodman and Bertha Ballantyne and numerous relatives. Albert was predeceased by his parents Louison and Emily Ballantyne, brothers Adolphe Ballantyne, Melvin Ballantyne, Rene Ballantyne, sisters Lily Allan, Mary Campbell, son David Ballantyne, grandson Richard Ballantyne, father-in-law Chief Cornelius Bignell, mother-in-law Florence Bignell, sisters-in-law Emma Constant, Jean Smith, Mary Jane Ballantyne, Brothers-in-law Paul Bignell, George Bignell, and Eric Bignell. Wake Service Margaret Henderson Parish Hall – Big Eddy - Wednesday, December 11, 2013 - 6:00 p.m. Funeral Service Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral – The Pas – Thursday, December 12, 2013 – 11:00 a.m. Interment Mile 6 Cemetery (beside his son, David) Reception Veteran’s Hall – Opaskwayak Cree Nation – 1:00 p.m. Slide Presentation of Albert’s life and times, plus an open microphone . Active Pall Bearers (Margaret Henderson Parish Hall to Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral) Grandsons: Noah Head, David Head, Michael Head, Dale Flett, Cody Flett, Spencer Flett, Everett Balfour, Conan Ballantyne, Maximus Ballantyne, and Delaney Ballantyne Active Pall Bearers (Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral to Mile 6 Cemetery) Donald Head, Corey Pelly, Adam Richard, Jason Ballantyne, Donovan Sanderson, Conway Roulette, Adam Buck Honourary Pall Bearers Walter Koshel, Andrew Nasekapow, Doug McIvor, Jim Smith, Stan Turner, Phillip Ballantyne, Bob Allan, Ted Bercier, Jim Buck, John Dorion, Simon Bignell, Raymond Ross, William Easter The Ballantyne Family would like to thank all those who have donated toward Albert’s Funeral : Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Paskwayak Business Development Corp., Otineka Development Corp., Opaskwayak Educational Authority Inc., Kikiwak Inn, McGillivary Care Home, Opaskwayak Health Authority, Ron Olson, Darryl Olson, Omar Constant, John “Poochie” McGillivary, The Pas Sweetgrass Head Start, and all the other individuals and organizations who donated food, cooking, and all the wonderful support and comfort.