From an ocean of grief, we announce the sudden passing of Andrew Henry Thomas Fergus, age 60, of a heart attack. Andrew was born April 13, 1964, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and died in Kamloops, British Columbia, on July 22, 2024, with Flora, his partner of almost 22 years, by his side.

Andrew grew up in the seaside village of Aberdour, Scotland. After some turbulence during childhood, he began the fulfillment of his Scottish family crest, “sweetness after difficulties.” As a teenager, he built a kayak in school and discovered his love of whitewater. He paddled for the Scottish International Team and won medals in whitewater kayaking, canoe slalom and canoe polo. Whitewater paddling and rafting took him to Nepal, the USA, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria, where he race managed the Whitewater Championships at the young age of 25.

At the age of 27, he left Scotland for Canada, and became a whitewater raft guide manager on the Ottawa River, in Ontario. He made his way west, first to Calgary, Alberta (where he found Flora and completed his PhD), and then to Kamloops, British Columbia to start work at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), in the School of Business and Economics. His oldest son, Ruaridh, was born three years later, and his youngest son, Coen, two years after that. Andrew was so proud of his boys and loved them with his whole heart.

At TRU, Andrew became an Associate Professor and founding Chair of the Department of Human Enterprise and Innovation. He served TRU as Chair of the Research Ethics Board and was a president of the Western Case Writers Association. He was also a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, which made him happy because he got to play with Lego at work. He had just completed a sabbatical year and was excited to begin working again with his research colleagues, this time with a focus on Slavery.

In the community, Andrew spent 7 years as a board chair, vice chair, and board member of ASK Wellness, and was a mentor at the Kamloops Innovation Centre. Along with his PhD in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, Andrew completed a Master of Science (MSc) degree in the Resources and the Environment program at the University of Calgary, a B.A. (Hons) in Recreation Management from Dunfermline College of Education, Edinburgh, and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Civil Engineering from Napier College, Edinburgh.

These are the facts of his life and accomplishments, and although those were part of him, Andrew was so much more to us than that. For us, he was Andy and Dad, maker of flat pancakes, builder of Lego and treehouses, giver of life-affirming hugs, and singer of bedtime songs, right up until the night he died. Animals loved him, always crossing rooms to say hello. He was wise and fun, a beautiful human being, and a world-class father.

Andy was magical – kind and brave, strong and true. He believed, most of all, in the magic of life. He found that magic outdoors, where he felt safe and most at home, mountain biking, snowboarding, ice climbing, stargazing. Two months before he died, to mark his 60th birthday, he fulfilled a lifelong dream and hiked the West Coast Trail. He loved from an open heart, and we deeply, deeply loved him in return. He had so much life he still wanted to live.

He is grieved by his partner Flora, his sons Ruaridh and Coen, dogs Beau and Lola, and cat Smudge. In Scotland, he is mourned by his sister Gillian (Andrew), his aunt Margo (Jimmy), cousins Steven (Gillian), Martin (Nicky), Michael (Carly) and by lifelong friends. In the USA, he is mourned by nephew Ryan, and nieces Holly (Zach), and Jenna. In Canada, he is mourned by colleagues, students, friends and neighbours. He was predeceased by his father Alasdair, his mother Kathleen, and his dog Red.

Andy knew and loved the power of water, and taught us how to let waves pass over us. We are holding to that now as we navigate new depths.

A private ceremony will be held for the family in the coming days. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations in Andrew’s memory can be made to a GoFundMe to help show support to his sons

( “Donate in Memory of Andrew Fergus”).

Finally, we invite those who knew and loved Andrew to celebrate his life and mark his passing in a way that reminds you of him, wherever you are in the world, and to share it with us if that feels right. We will be celebrating his life for the rest of ours.

Condolences to the family and/or celebrations can be sent to: andyandthemagicoflife@gmail.com