Kelowna

Kelowna has lost a true civic treasure.

Photo: Contributed - Pat Kennedy

Dr. Barry Urness (right) with wife Betty and former Saskatchewan Roughrider George Reed

Dr. Barry Urness passed away Thursday morning after a brief battle with cancer. He was 69.

Dr. Urness, a noted chiropractor, owned a practice in the Rutland area for more than 40 years.

He left the practice earlier this year after his health began to deteriorate.

Born in Windsor, Ontario, Dr. Urness eventually moved with his family to Regina where he grew up.

He relocated to Kelowna in 1968 and, over the past several decades left his mark in the city in both the sports scene and civically.

Dr. Urness was a recipient of Kelowna's Man of the Year Award and this past April was presented the Anita Tozer Award given to an individual or group in recognition of an extraordinary and positive contribution to the quality of life in Kelowna.

Earlier this week, it was announced Dr. Urness would be inducted into the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, an organization he founded back in 2008.

He was a founding member of the Okanagan Sun Junior Football Team, member of the Civic Awards Committee for 25 years, President of the Kelowna Amateur Sport Society, Director of the Kelowna Track and Field Society, Provincial Director of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and a recipient of the Commemorative Medallion from the Government of Canada in honour of 125 years of Confederation.

Dr. Urness was a visionary who worked tirelessly for the good of others.

He is survived by his wife Betty, sons David and Dean and five grand children.

He will be sorely missed by family, friends and the entire community.