Willy Kurt Elmer, born 04 November 1947 died on 15 March 2024 in Canmore's General Hospital after a short but valiant battle with cancer. His long-term partner, Sally, was by his side.
Willy came to Canada in his early twenties from St. Margreten in the Swiss Canton of
St. Gallen to further his career in hotel catering at the Hotel Vancouver. He went on to
the Banff Springs Hotel and then to Banff's Sunshine Village Resort as the chef for both
Winter and Summer seasons, using any spare time as the enthusiastic skilled skier he
Was, to ski Sunshine's world class slopes. After working in other prestigious hotels across Canada, he moved to Canmore to establish the popular and excellent The Continental - much enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Later he worked in the bakery business, enjoying adding yet more skills to his impressive list.
Willy was a "people person", enjoying meeting and talking to everyone - in English,
French, German or Swiss German. Always a perceptive and kindly man, he helped many in a quiet, discrete manner when needed.
He will be greatly missed by those who knew him in Canmore and by his friends and relatives in Switzerland.
Instead of flowers, please consider a donation to a cause of your choosing or perhaps to
an animal related fund - thinking of Willy and his favourite ginger and white cat, Pete.
