Philip Eugene OLSON

Phil was our rock.

Beloved husband to Cathy, devoted dad to Justin (Christine Paley) of Winnipeg and Laura (Jesse Radu) of Saskatoon, gentlest of grandpas to Astrid, Christian, Rhys and Paige, steadfast sibling to Kate Hervé du Penhoat of Paris and Eric Olson of Calgary, and best of friends to numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and colleagues.

With more than 40 years’ experience in the mining industry, Phil had a heart of gold. He loved the outdoors: hiking, camping, birding, hunting and canoeing. He was born on McKenzie Island near Red Lake, Ontario, but went to high school in Lanigan, Saskatchewan and university in Regina, Saskatchewan, which is where he met Cathy and declared his love at first site goal to marry her. The dream came true in 1972 and lasted 52 years! Together they travelled to mining camps and lived in mining towns, raising their children in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

A graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, Regina campus (B.Sc.) and the University of Manitoba (M.Sc.), Phil was a professional geoscientist who retired from his position as chairman and CEO of Titan Uranium Inc., a Saskatchewan-based junior uranium exploration company, in 2009. Previously, he held the successive positions of vice-president, exploration and corporate development with Claude Resources Inc. He served as the exploration chair for the Saskatchewan Mining Association and the co-chair on the Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration Government Advisory Committee which reformulated the province’s exploration guidelines.

Phil also served as an industry representative on the Mining Technical Advisory and Monitoring Committee that worked on the implementation of National Instrument 43-101. Additionally, he served a three-year term as geoscience councillor for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan and on the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) Committee to establish the Exploration Best Practice Guidelines. Phil was chairman of the CIM Lynn Lake Branch in the early ‘80s and chairman of the Saskatoon Section of the CIM Geological Society in the early 2000s. He served for many years as the field trip chairman for the CIM Geological Society.

He loved good food and wine, playing cribbage, watching sports like basketball, football and baseball, harvesting wild game, fishing for Pacific salmon, photography, public speaking, curling, and connecting with family.

He is predeceased by his parents Marion and Bob Olson, mother and father-in-law (Donalda and Chris Rude), sister-in-law Lindy Olson and several beloved hunting dogs that he trained to perfection: Lancer, Rowdy, Buffy, Blue, Precious Freddie, Belle Amie, Beau Regard and Gus. He leaves behind his beautiful golden retriever Liv Ingot, who was by his side with his wife and children in his final days. Special thanks to Bryce and Linda for their support and kindness through Phil’s illness. Phil passed away in Nanaimo, BC after a short battle with cancer. May he rest in peace. 

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