Lorne William Pelto

PELTO, Lorne William
December 21, 1950 - November 1, 2025
In Loving Memory

With heavy hearts and deep gratitude, we remember Lorne William Pelto - a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend who passed away peacefully in Sidney, British Columbia, surrounded by family on November 1, 2025.
Born in Ladysmith to Babs (Marguerite) and Mauno Pelto, Lorne's childhood in BC's logging camps and coastal communities sparked a lifelong love of nature, adventure, and appreciation for the joy of fishing and hunting. His stories of Sultry Bay, Sandspit, and Kitimat will never be forgotten as they echo his admiration for the beauty of British Columbia.
Lorne's determination and work ethic shone early, as he worked in the logging industry to put himself through Simon Fraser University, where he earned his BA in geography. His career as a safety inspector with the Worker's Compensation Board took him across the province, earning him the affectionate nickname the "Safety Buffalo." Lorne was respected for his unwavering commitment to safer workplaces, his leadership in developing industry standards, and his generosity in sharing knowledge through internationally recognized publications, seminars, and conferences.
Beyond his professional achievements, Lorne found deep enjoyment on the water harvesting the ocean's bounty and captaining his beloved boats, the Kindred Spirit, the Lorri Girl, and the C-Joy. Lorne also enjoyed growing dahlias in his garden and spending time with family and friends spanning Vancouver Island, the interior of BC, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego, and Seattle.
Lorne is survived by his beloved wife Carolyn Reeves Colbert, daughter Melissa Pelto (Walker; children Jack and Vivienne), and stepdaughters Kim Bull (Shane; children Brooke, Cole, Camryn) and Kelly Bull-Tomer (Steve; sons Jake, Ryan, Luke). He was previously married to Ellen (Market) and to the late Lorri (Thorne/Bull). He is also survived by his sister Lynda McKewan (nephews Dillon and Murray), as well as extended family and friends.
Lorne's kindness, generosity, and appreciation for life will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in every positive thought and in every Dr. Hook song played.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Cancer Agency.

A celebration of Lorne's life will be held on Sunday, December 20, 2025, at 2:00pm in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria.
Condolences may be offered to the family at
www.mccallgardens.com