It was just a few weeks ago that an editorial in this paper described Bill Alton as roaring to life during his closing address at a provincial election forum.
Alton, 70, died this long-weekend after a stroke. He moved to St. Albert in 1981.
“He was very caring and intelligent. He just enjoyed his last years so much,” said his wife Connie on Tuesday. She said that her husband had enjoyed the campaign.
Alton was a long-time Liberal, believing in governance from the centre. In April and May, he fulfilled what he said was a long-time desire to run by participating in the provincial election. Prior to that he’d been deeply involved in the Liberal constituency association for St. Albert.
Alton spent much of his career as a carpenter, finishing up working for a union hall in roles that included educating members on how to be good union citizens.
His life included jobs in fields that ranged from a porter for a railroad company to working as a bar singer, playing in a rock ’n’ roll band and working in a museum.
Alton and his wife Connie had two children. It was clear even during brief interviews with the Gazette Alton was tremendously proud of them.
In his free time he still played the guitar, enjoyed walking his dogs and described himself as still puttering at carpentry projects for friends and family.
He was an active volunteer, canvassing for several foundations and sitting throughout the years on a variety of boards or committees, like the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association, school councils and serving as the chair of the Cantilon Choral Society for more than a decade.
