BEARSPAW— A longtime Bearspaw resident has been named to the Order of Canada.
Charles Roy Guest, better known as Nipper Guest to his friends, was named to the Order of Canada on Friday (Nov. 26) for the establishment of an innovative profit-sharing and employee-ownership plan at Spartan Control Company Ltd. and for founding the Bearspaw Benevolent Foundation, among a variety of other accomplishments.
Jorge Stuwe was part of a group that has been pushing for Guest to receive the Order of Canada.
Stuwe met Guest at the Melcour YMCA in 2007. The two became fast friends after training together on the ellipticals at the facility.
“He is a very charming, elderly gentleman,” Stuwe said. “He’s a man who has a lot of stories— He has done extraordinary things in his life.”
The timing of the membership to the Order of Canada serves as a great birthday present for Guest who will be turning 95 on Dec. 18, Stuwe added.
“It is such a deserved honour that he got,” Stuwe said. “He’s an incredibly respected and loved person.”
The idea to nominate Guest for the Order of Canada was initiated by opera singer and Order of Canada member Jim Monk.
“He said, ‘You know Nipper [Guest] … Has done so much for society in general,’” Stuwe said.
They spent three years working to get the Order of Canada for Guest.
“We thought he would be a shoo-in— He’s a war hero, he founded the company, did some real good with that company and founded the foundation that gives only to charity,” Stuwe said. “You get this award for your life work.”
Guest, born in December 1925, has lived an extraordinary life.
Stuwe said Guest's adventures began at the tender age of 16 when he sneakily changed his birth certificate to enlist in the Canadian army and fight in the Second World War. He officially enlisted the army in 1943 and in September 1944 he joined the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada in the Second Infantry Division at Dieppe.
In October 1944 Guest was wounded in battle advancing on the Dutch border, Stuwe said. Half of Guest's shoulder blade was blown away during the advance.
Guest survived and was transported to England for recovery.
When Guest returned to Canada after the war he attended the University of Alberta graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering.
He launched Spartan Control Company Ltd. with former colleague Bill Flegal in 1962.
As one of the founding members of the company Guest was uniquely responsible for one aspect that even today makes Spartan Controls a unique company, Stuwe said. Guest is an ardent believer in profit sharing and was determined to ensure part of the profits should go to shareholders. He suggested 50/50 right down the middle of profits and all permanent employees were able to participate.
Guest was exceedingly proud of the profit-sharing idea he established at Spartan Control, Stuwe said, which helped spread the wealth of the business to employees.
“Everybody became shareholders over time and profited,” Stuwe said.
Guest retired in his 60th year as president of Spartan Controls.
In 1991 Guest founded the Bearspaw Benevolent Foundation as a way to support local charity groups in the Calgary area.
“He gives very, very generously,” Stuwe said.
The foundation boasts an extensive list of charities that receive donations including the Calgary Drop-In Centre and other agencies along with an annual bursary at Cochrane High School. The bursary is worth $20,000 over four years and is awarded to a student taking a practical science in post-secondary education.
True to his generous nature ultimately his estate will go to the foundation, Stuwe said.
Guest lived a rich life outside his philanthropic work, Stuwe said. He married the love of his life Eleanor Crandell in 1955. They were happily married until she died in 2011. The duo has three sons Fred, Gordon and Bruce Guest.
When he was 90 Guest documented his life in his book No Place for a Married Man with Kids. Stuwe said $5 from every book was donated to the YMCA. The book documents his travels and adventures cycling across Canada and his explorations of Guinea, Nepal, Eastern Europe, Africa, Japan and China.
In celebration of his naming to the Order of Canada a box was mailed to Guest that included a book of all the prior award winners, two pins and a pen celebrating his role as a member of the Order of Canada.
The actual award medal and ribbon will be provided at a later date. Typically, the Governor General directly gives the award to members, but this has been complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He was just delighted with it,” Stuwe said.
