An inspirational leader and
respected professional, Todd Lumbard provides ongoing direction and guidance to
the professional team at Speers.
Todd grew up in his family’s
funeral business, Brockie Donovan Funeral Home in Brandon, MB., and learned his work ethic, attention to detail and honesty
and integrity in business from his father, Jack. However, Todd’s passion and talent for hockey
led him to a goaltending career with the Notre Dame Hounds, Brandon
Wheat Kings and Regina Pats, before being drafted by the New York Islanders.
When Todd’s hockey career came to an end, he graduated with honours as a
Funeral Service Professional.
In 2004, Todd saw Speers as a
perfect fit for his belief in providing high-quality, locally-owned funeral
service to a community. He was able to
purchase Speers and Regina became home for he and his young family.
In 2006, Todd was elected to the
highly-respected position of president of Selected Independent Funeral Homes --
an international association representing 1500 exclusively chosen members from
around the world.
Todd, his wife Kerry, and three
children, Drew, Brock and Luke, are active members of the Regina community.
Todd is involved in several boards and committees such as the Wascana Country
Club, the Canadian Club of Regina, Regina Eastview Rotary Club and the Funeral and
Cremation Services Council of Saskatchewan. Todd
loves to golf and spends much of his spare time being involved with his
children’s activities.
By building on the values and
history of Speers, Todd’s vision of providing exceptional locally-owned funeral
services continues to ensure Speers’ service is second to none.
A long-time
member of the Speers staff, Doug adds valuable experience as a Funeral
Service Professional at Speers.
Because of his knowledge of the history and traditions of Regina and
community, Doug provides leadership and mentorship to the Speers team.
Born in
Toronto, Doug moved west and attended school in Oxbow and Regina. After high
school, he worked with Bremner’s Funeral Chapel and later apprenticed with
Helmsing-Bremner Funeral Chapel. He then spent two years at Saskatoon Funeral
Home before returning to Regina to join the staff at Speers in 1973.
A well-known
figure in Regina, community involvement is important to Doug. He has been
involved with a variety of boards and committees including the Regina
Canadian Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Doug also volunteers his time with
Access Communications.
Doug is proud
of his history with Speers, and recognizes the value of being part of a
locally-owned business that cares about the families in his community.
Joe Gauthier
has a soft, kind personality that has made him a favorite among staff and
families at Speers during his long history with the company.
Born and
raised in Calgary, Joe moved to Saskatchewan and joined the Speers Funeral
Chapel in 1972, where he quickly became a valued member of the team. As a
founding member of Regina Palliative Care Bereavement Groups, he has continued to play an
important role in helping thousands of families who have faced the challenges
and emotions that come from losing a loved one.
Joe and his
wife Winnie have one son, Carter (Susana) and two grandsons, Timothy and
Joshua. Partially retired, Joe and Winnie are thrilled to spend time
traveling all over the world. Some of their favorite times have been road
trips across the US, stopping at casinos and other fun spots.
Over his many
valued years with Speers, Joe has developed a sincere love of working with
people, sharing in their experiences, and offering them strength and hope.
Lorne’s
compassion, ability to listen, and attention to detail allow him to attend to
the diverse needs of grieving families, and to be a leader among the Speers
staff.
Born and
raised on the family farm near Kipling, SK, Lorne gained a work ethic that
has served him well in his career. After finishing high school in 1977, he
moved to Regina and joined Speers Funeral Chapel. Lorne quickly took on
greater responsibilities arranging and directing funerals, and in 1989,
graduated as a licensed Funeral Service Professional. In 2008, Lorne became the Director of
Operations at Speers, and continues to lead the team of funeral professionals
in delivering the high level of service that has become a Speers trademark.
Lorne sits on
the Legislative Committee for the Funeral and Cremation Services Council of
Saskatchewan as well as the City of Regina Cemeteries Advisory
Committee. He is also a member of the
Advisory Committee for the SIAST Funeral Services Program.
He and his
wife, Marie, have two young daughters, Shanelle and Rebecca. As a family,
they enjoy travelling, gardening and a weekend away in their motor home. Lorne also enjoys various real estate
ventures and relaxing with family and friends.
Lorne feels
privileged to have been able to serve so many people in their time of loss,
and he is committed to continually raising the bar of service excellence in
funeral service.
Ferlin
McChesney has an extraordinary ability to listen and empathize with people
who have experienced the death of someone close to them, making him a valued
resource for Speers’ families who are seeking meaningful life celebrations.
Growing up on
an acreage near White City, Ferlin attended many funerals and decided as a
child he wanted to grow up to “˜drive a limo’. As an adult, he completed the
funeral director program, and began working at Speers in 1985. Along with his
work helping families plan celebrations, Ferlin assists with special projects
and has been key in designing and implementing the Speers advanced
audio/visual systems.
Ferlin credits
his parents with teaching him to respect people for whom they are, and that
has helped shape his beliefs that each family he works with is unique and
deserves special attention. Active in
his church, Ferlin loves fishing, traveling and photography.
Staff members
appreciate Ferlin’s wonderful, yet kind, sense of humour as he lights up the
room with his wit and stories. This love of people translates into his work,
and he is treasured by the Speers’ team as well as by the families he serves.
It is Christopher Mohr’s quiet confidence; deep compassion and warm
understanding that helps families take control of a difficult situation when
a loved one dies. His attention to detail and unrelenting work ethic are
greatly appreciated by his coworkers and by the families he serves.
Christopher was born and raised in the Earl Grey District and graduated
from high school in 1993. At the age
of 17, Christopher chose to follow in the footsteps of his father, Brian
Mohr, and began his career at Speers Funeral Chapel. In 2000, Chris became a Licenced Funeral
Service Professional. That same year, he married Deborah, and in 2008, they
had a baby girl, Madeline.
Chris is a fourth generation farmer who takes pride in raising Black
Angus cattle and growing oats and barley on his farm near Vibank,
Saskatchewan. He spends his spare time
restoring and working with antique farm equipment, fishing the local lakes
and riding the back roads on his motorcycle.
Chris feels fortunate to meet with so many diverse people from Southern
Saskatchewan and to help them through a trying time in their lives.
The fall of 2007 brought a welcome face to
Speers Funeral and Cremation Services with Ken Gold joining the team of
funeral service professionals. Ken
was born in Edmonton, Alberta but was raised in Regina. His early years were spent at Grant Road
School, Campbell Collegiate and in 1987 he graduated from Martin
Collegiate.
Ken’s career as a professional funeral
director began with the former Helmsing Funeral Chapel in Regina. In 1994, he was awarded his designation
as a Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer and received the Ethics Award from
the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
Ken and his wife, Colleen have three
children, Jordan, Dallas and Krystal, who attend the Regina Christian
School. As a member of the Heritage
Alliance Church, he is actively involved in the music ministry. In his spare time Ken enjoys travelling,
home renovations, landscaping and spending time with family and friends.
A friendly attitude and willingness to help
in any situation that presents itself, makes Ken a great team player. Ken’s compassion, sincere kindness, and
long time connection to the community of Regina is a comfort to the
families he serves.
Kelsi
Kenny’s willingness to provide thoughtful assistance whenever she sees a
need, along with her special attention to the small details allows her to shine in her chosen career.
Kelsi grew
up with her three brothers on a farm near Davidson, and graduated from
high school in 2005. Throughout her life she has developed a love for
sports, and earned a spot in the Optimist Junior Golf Championship in
Florida in 2004. Along with golf, she enjoys hockey, basketball, camping
and any activity that keeps her outdoors.
In 2007,
she entered SIAST to train as a funeral service professional. Speers
hired her in 2008, recognizing her potential as an excellent addition to
the staff.
Through
Kelsi’s path to becoming a Funeral Service Professional, she has taken
opportunities presented to her to make lasting impressions on families
with her kindness, professionalism and calm ability to take charge in
difficult situations.
Kelsi graduated from the SIAST Funeral services program on
May 29, 2009, receiving the Funeral Director Specialty Award.
A
sensitivity to people’s emotions coupled with a friendly, kind nature have
earned Paul a reputation as an all-around great guy.
The
eldest of five children, Paul was born and raised in Regina. He joined Speers
in 1988, eventually training to become a Funeral Service Professional. Paul’s
overall responsibilities include overseeing grounds and the Speers
fleet. Paul’s attention and pride in
the details showcases itself in the upkeep and maintenance of the property
and vehicles at Speers.
Paul takes great pride in his work as a funeral director and
commits himself to the families to make sure every little detail is looked
after. His compassionate and caring nature makes him a wonderful listener to
those who look to him for professional guidance.
Paul
and his wife, Kathy, enjoy entertaining, traveling, golf and spending time
with their family and friends.
Bonnie Templeton is one of the
friendly, helpful people you can expect to meet at Speers Funeral and Cremation
Services. Families who are planning their loved one’s services appreciate
Bonnie’s compassion and competence, knowing she is truly listening to their
requests.
Born in Saskatoon, Bonnie was raised in Pilot
Butte, graduating from Balgonie’s Greenall High School in 1976. Before
joining Speers in 1993 as a computer service specialist, Bonnie worked for the
Robert Simpson Warehouse, G. H. Woods, and Lowry's Manufacturing and Sales.
Over the years her interest in serving families grew, and in 2002, she became a
Licenced Funeral Director.
Bonnie lives at St. Peter’s Colony, just outside
Regina with her husband John, and their daughter Kelsea. Her two stepsons, Jordan and Zachary, live in
Manitoba.
Living in the country provides Bonnie with the
chance to enjoy her horses as well as do some watercolour painting and
gardening in her free time.
As a Family Service
Specialist, Corin cares deeply about the well-being of the families she serves.
By asking gentle questions, she tries to find unique and touching ways to honour
the memories of loved ones, while providing support to those in need.
Corin was raised in a loving
home in Regina with her sister and two brothers. Following her graduation from
O’Neill High School in 1997, she worked in the hotel industry, eventually
becoming a director of human resources.
In September 1999, she had a
daughter, Regan, whom she completely adores. Their summer weekends are filled
with camping and various outside activities, and in the winter they enjoy
skating, swimming and playing outside. In her spare time Corin enjoys baking,
cooking, sewing, cross-stitch, latch-hook rug making and dancing. Perhaps she
is most renowned, however, for her talent in crocheting blankets and beautiful
baby clothes.
Corin’s career expertise in
customer service and her genuine warmth and kindness are a wonderful addition to
the service you know and trust at Speers.
Amara Geick’s career path seemed to provide her with the perfect mix of technical and life experience to prepare her for a professional career with Speers. An administrative background with Watergroup most recently prepared her with the many important administrative functions of an urgent office setting. Previous exposure and education in health and wellness developed Amara’s empathy and patience, which is paramount in caring for families in need.
Fruitvale, British Columbia was Amara’s childhood home where her parents still reside today. Amara graduated from high school in Trail, BC before her career travels took her to Brooks, Alberta and then on to Regina.
Amara has an easy combination of youthful exuberance, a great sense of humor and a calm confidence that make her a joy to know and spend time with. These enviable qualities have complemented and elevated the level of service and teamwork everyday at Speers.
When Amara is not busy working at Speers, she can be often found hanging out and playing cars and dinosaurs with her two-year-old, Marshall. Amara admits that when time permits she loves to shop and exercise at the gym.
Personable, bright, competent and
organized, Aaron Bayly ensures Speers’ finances run smoothly, and that families
have access to any help they may need.
Born and raised in Sherwood Park,
Alberta, Aaron developed an understanding of business through his father, who
was president of the Alberta Long Term Health Care Association. After serving a
mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he earned his
commerce degree from the University of Lethbridge. In 2007, he joined Speers,
maintaining the company’s finances while continuing to pursue his designation
as a Certified Management Accountant.
Aaron and his wife, Veronica,
have two children, Benjamin and Rachel. In his spare time, he enjoys
basketball, snowboarding, skateboarding, playing with his children and going on
dates with his wife.
Although Aaron’s role doesn’t always
have him working directly with families, he cares deeply about the services
Speers offers and does everything he can to assist with kindness and clarity
when a family is faced with the death of a loved one.
Michael joined the Speers’ team in 2009 as a part-time accountant
and he is currently completing his fourth year of accounting at the University
of Regina. Michael’s warm and friendly personality, fresh new ideas and excellent
organizational skills have made him a perfect addition to the Speers team.
Born and raised in Regina, Michael is the eldest of four
boys. In 2002, after completing a two-year mission in Quebec he met his wife,
Lise. They were married in the Regina Saskatchewan Temple in the spring of 2003
and soon added three lively boys to their family. Michael and Lise keep Corwin, Connor and
Daniel active by playing outside and going camping several times a year.
In his spare time, Michael enjoys a variety of sports activities
such as soccer, hockey, racquetball and squash.
He is patiently waiting for the years when he will be able to teach and
enjoy these activities with his boys. He loves relaxing with a good book and as
an avid Riders Fan, Michael gathers up his wonderful family to watch every
Saskatchewan Roughrider football game.
Michael is a very active member of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Michael embraces
the responsibilities he has training the class instructors, handling the
administration for the classes and even helping to develop new methods for the
instructors to use in their teachings.
Norma Veresh is a woman
with impeccable style, class and a passion for work and play. Her sharp attention to detail, organizational
skills and attentive nature are just a few reasons why she is a valued Family
Service Specialist at Speers. Outside of
work, these same talents allow her to participate fully in the lives of her
beloved children and grandchildren.
Norma was born in
Esterhazy but moved to Regina at age eight. She graduated from Martin Collegiate in 1964 and married her high school
love, Jerry, in 1965. Norma worked
outside the home for one year before starting a family. For 12 years, she chose to stay at home to
raise her daughters, Charlotte and Katrina, and son Jaret.
In 1980, Norma started
work at Speers Funeral Chapel, but in 1999 retired from full-time
employment. Norma chose to continue
working part-time and feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and
serve so many families through her work at Speers.
Norma and Jerry have
seven wonderful grandchildren and one great grandson. Her love for her family
is shown through the many hours she spends at her grandchildren’s schools,
sports events, swimming lessons and dance activities. Norma’s hobby is photography and she
willingly shares her talent to archive important events with family and the
staff at Speers.
Born and raised
in Milestone, Saskatchewan, Dee Renwick is a Funeral Service Professional with
deep ties to the community he serves.
His mother was Florence Beck, originally from Lang, Saskatchewan and Dee
can boast of over 300 relatives from his mother’s family. Dee’s funeral ancestry can be traced back to
his Great Grandfather Beck, who owned a funeral business in Illinois in the
1800’s.
Dee grew up on
the family farm, as the youngest of three boys.
The Renwick land was farmed by Dee’s father and grandfather. Dee continues to farm the land which has been in his family for over 100 years.
Dee began his
career in the funeral profession in 1979 and joined Speers Funeral Chapel in
1984. He resides on the original family
farm and continues to work part time serving the community he loves: Milestone,
Lang, Wilcox, Rouleau, Avonlea and Regina areas.
For fun, Dee
collects farm toys (1/64 to 1/16 sizes) and vehicle license plates. He enjoys
camping, water sports, golfing, playing pool and travelling to warm climates in
the winter.
Dee currently
volunteers with the Milestone Rural Fire Dept and Dunnet Regional Park Board. Over the years Dee’s generosity with his time
has allowed him to make a difference in many local organizations such as the
Milestone United Church, Pine Lodge Alumni – Indian Head, The Elks Club, and
the Milestone Rink Board.
Dee knows that
if he can make one of the most difficult times in a families’ life a little bit
easier then he has done his job well. He
takes pride in making sure his families know they can call him anytime for
professional advice.
A natural affinity for working
with people and some unique life experiences steered Ron Nagel into his role as
Family Service Specialt and Celebrant at Speers.
Raised in Englefeld, Ron moved to
Regina in 1964. For 36 years he owned and operated Nagel’s Audio Visual, and
spent much of his free time serving as a volunteer with community organizations
focused on helping people. In 2005, Speers was fortunate to welcome Ron as a
Funeral Service Attendant, which involved assisting with funeral service
preparations and services. Ron proved to have a natural ability to guide
families through a difficult time and consequently, in 2008, he became a Speers
Funeral Celebrant. As a celebrant, Ron
works one on one with families to create a personalized celebration of life for
their loved one.
Ron and his wife, Diane, have two
children and two grandchildren, all living in Regina. A polka musician and DJ
on 91.3 FM CJTR, Ron has been a regular volunteer and entertainer at nursing homes in
the area. He also enjoys travel, rebuilding old accordions and fishing with his
grandson.
Ron has been a tremendous
addition to Speers, providing warm guidance and welcome support to families in
need.
Family
Service Attendant, Speers
Funeral Celebrant
An appreciation and interest in others and an innate
ability to understand and care for the community led Janet to her ever
expanding roles with Speers Funeral and Cremation Services.
Janet was born and raised in Regina and is extremely
proud of Saskatchewan’s heritage and the generous people who reside in this
province and in her home city.
Janet’s years of experience in business and health
care fields have naturally developed her ability to serve families at their
time of need. An appreciation and understanding of people
from diverse backgrounds and cultures provides Janet with an aptitude for
designing celebrant services that meet individual needs. Janet thoroughly enjoys being a part of the
professional atmosphere and teamwork at Speers.
Janet and her husband enjoy sharing time with family
and friends, cooking, gardening, music and travel.
Al
was born in Regina and has lived in Saskatchewan his entire life. His early education was in Regina and he is a
graduate of Balfour Collegiate and the University of Regina.
With
more than 20 years service to the City of Regina, Al’s diverse experience in
sports facility administration and special event coordination taught him life
long skills in customer service, organization and leadership. Early retirement from full time work allowed
Al to join Speers Funeral and Cremation Services as a part time Funeral
Attendant. Al’s clear vision, work ethic
and ease of directing people give a sense of confidence to those around
him. His genuine compassion and care
allow Al to make sure families are especially well taken care of.
An
entrepreneur at heart, Al has been involved in many retail and service related
businesses over the years. He currently
enjoys being a manufacturer’s representative for the golf industry and his
travels take him throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan in the summer months.
On the home
front, Al takes great pride in his house and yard, especially his grape vines
and the jelly and wine products derived from the harvest.
Al has been
married to his wife, Glenda, for forty years and they have two grown daughters. Together they enjoy spending time with their
family and especially with their three grandchildren who all live in the Regina
area.
A friendly, welcoming smile and
relaxed easy way with people helps Brian Mohr connect with the families he
works with at Speers.
Growing up on his family farm
near Earl Grey, Brian developed a strong work ethic and an appreciation for the
simple things in life. Brian works with
the Speers team as a part-time Funeral Service Professional. With an innate
ability to work diligently, developed and honed on the farm, he is greatly
appreciated by everyone who works with him.
Brian and his wife, Laurie,
continue to farm in Earl Grey, finding peace and enjoyment in the
outdoors. In his spare time, Brian
enjoys restoring old tractors and going to auction sales.
Coping with the death of his own
father recently, Brian realizes more than ever what an important role the staff
at Speers play in helping families through an extremely tough time.
A well-known figure in the
funeral service industry, Ron McEachern’s extensive history with Speers is a
comfort to families needing advice and support.
Ron began working as a driver for
Speers in 1954 before becoming an apprentice to the late George Speers. In
1980, Ron, along with two other employees, purchased Speers, and he served as
president until it was sold to Todd Lumbard in 2004. Ron earned the “Lifetime
Funeral Service Award” for his contributions to the industry throughout his
career, and he recently received his 50-year membership pin from the Grand
Lodge at Saskatchewan.
Ron and his wife Lynn, have two
sons and four grandchildren. They have
enjoyed traveling for a number of years with a particular fondness for the
island of Maui. Ron is actively involved with the WaWa Shrine and raises funds
for the new Shrine Hospital in Montreal.
Robert
"Bob" was born and raised in Fillmore, SK. After graduating
from Fillmore High School Bob joined Speers Funeral Chapel in 1958 which was
then located at 1867 Rose Street. He was the first apprentice to article
at the current Speers location.
Bob
received his Funeral Director/Embalmer's License in 1964. In 1980 Bob,
along with Ron MacFarlane and Ron McEachern purchased Speers Funeral Chapel
from the Speers Family. In November 2004 the business was sold to Todd
Lumbard. Bob still remains involved with Speers on a part time basis.
Bob
and his wife Judy have three sons, Todd, Robert and Scott and three
grandchildren
Gord was born in Beausejour,
Manitoba, the eldest of two boys. He came to Regina in 1943 and worked
for Speers Funeral Chapel for seven years which included driving the
ambulance. Gord joined the Regina Fire Department in 1951 and retired
as Captain in 1981. He has been associated with Speers since 1943 and
is honored to have looked after many good friends.
