Robert Allum

Ottawa, Ontario-Equine Canada regretfully announces the passing of very dedicated volunteer, former board member, official, competition organizer and member, Robert (Bob) Allum, 62, of Ashton, ON, on Wednesday, March 26, 2008.

Immigrating to Canada with his wife Joan, Bob started his career as a software engineer. From a young age, both of Bob’s daughters, Helen and Ruth, showed a keen interest in horses and the Allum family immediately became very involved with everything equine.

To share his daughters’ passion for horses Bob also joined them in competition. He evented up to the Training level and also became the Joint Master of the Ottawa Valley Hunt.

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In 2005, with his combined experience in software and horses, Bob was elected to the Equine Canada Board of Directors as a Director-at-Large, by the Equine Canada membership, for a three-year term. During that time, Bob was also very involved in several of Equine Canada’s human resources committees. He was also very appreciated for his leadership as the Chair of the IT Committee.

“Bob was a dedicated director-at-Large to the Board of Directors of Equine Canada and member of several committees. Bob was always a willing volunteer who gave of his expertise to assist the Equine Canada staff and worked tirelessly on the development of a new data base,” remarked the President of Equine Canada, Al Patterson. “He will be sadly missed by all at EC and the equine community.”

Bob’s keen interest in eventing also lead him to become an Equine Canada official. In 1994, he became an Eventing Technical Delegate (TD) and successfully upgraded to a Level 2 TD in 2001, retiring in 2007.

“I was so very deeply saddened to learn of Bob’s death. Over the past three years, I was fortunate to have benefited from Bob’s expertise, insight and support, professionally and personally,” noted the CEO of Equine Canada, Debbie Millar. “His frequent visits to the Equine Canada office were always appreciated in his role as a dedicated volunteer and equine enthusiast.”

Oakhurst Farm, owned by the Allum family, has been the site of many very successfully Horse Trials since 1991.

Bob leaves behind his wife Joan and two daughters, Helen and Ruth, and grandchildren- Emma, Zoe, Eric and Tatum. Bob is also survived by his sister Christine Avard.

Friends may pay respects at the Kelly Funeral Home, 580 Eagleson Road, Kanata Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Service Monday in the Chapel at 1:00 p.m. In memoriam donations to the Ottawa Hospital Foundation <http://www.ohfoundation.ca/index_e.asp> are appreciated.

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