Harvey Dennis Brown

Harvey’s sons, Steve Brown of Kanata, and Chris Brown of Calgary, are sad to announce the peaceful passing of their father, Harvey Dennis Brown, aged 97, at the Red Oak Retirement Residence in Kanata, Ontario on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Harvey is predeceased by his wife Shirley Agnes Brown (née Wilson) and survived by his daughter-in-law, Jane Lemaire of Calgary and his granddaughters Garielle (Trevor Richards) Brown of Calgary and Pier Brown of Victoria.

Harvey, an Ottawa boy through and through, considers Sandy Hill to be his original home, but in his later teenage years, he lived in Centertown. His father died when Harvey was young and his mother passed away in his teenage years. He dropped out of school in grade 10 to make ends meet and was a bicycle delivery boy for a print shop and a garment supplier. These challenges brought out characteristics of determination, resilience, loyalty, patient decision-making, and also a positive outlook on life and a friendly word for everyone. He met his future wife, Shirley Wilson, around 1950 and they were married in August of 1952. Their son Chris was born in 1956, and Stephen was born in 1958.

Harvey enrolled in the reserve Air Force in 1948 and transferred into the regular Air Force in 1951. He was employed as a Safety Systems Technician during his military service. Harvey and Shirley were posted first in Ottawa, then Comox, British Columbia; 4-Wing, Germany; North Bay, Ontario; Chatham, New Brunswick; Greenwood, Nova Scotia; and back to Ottawa in 1970. He was the head of Safety Systems at the Air Force Base in Ottawa until military retirement in 1976 but continued in this role as a civilian for several more years. The couple lived in Bells Corners then Kanata for the rest of their lives.

As a teenager, he was a strong swimmer and a competitive canoeist with the Rideau Canoe Club. He was a lifeguard and swimming and water safety instructor in the Air Force. He loved to ski. He took the train to Camp Fortune to ski with friends in the 1940’s and skied with his boys at such “famous” resorts as Renous, New Brunswick and Middleton, Nova Scotia, returning to the Gatineau in Ottawa in 1970.

However, his real love and passion is singing and music. As a young man, he played the drum in a marching band associated with the Changing of the Guard. His son Steve is a product of that passion. Steve started piano lessons in early elementary school and progressed through to grade 9 piano certifications. He still plays. Harvey took him to his first orchestral experience at the age of eight; the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra performing at his elementary school in Chatham New Brunswick. Steve loves orchestral music and opera and travels frequently to attend live performances. Everywhere the family was posted Harvey would join whatever singing group he could. When Harvey and Shirley moved into the Red Oak Retirement Residence 10 years ago, Harvey quickly became well known as a frequent performer and a leader in anything that had to do with singing. He would sing anywhere, anytime. He had a massive repertoire of old songs which he transcribed and made available in Red Oak. Hearing Harvey sing was a treat. The family has video of Harvey regaling his barber with song just two weeks before he left us. He continues to sing, now back with Shirley, his lifetime love and partner. Thanks for the memories, Dad.