Norman Alfred McCallum passed away peacefully on April 11, 2024, in Kamloops, BC, at the age of 81. He was born on July 31, 1942, to parents Hermeline Desjarlais and Harry McCallum in Buffalo Narrows, SK. Norm is survived by his siblings, Louis (Rita) McCallum, Mary Hansen, and Alex McCallum.

He will be missed by his loving wife, Aurelia Lillico, and his children, Dwight McCallum, Patricia McCallum, and Wayne Cunningham, Sandra McCallum, and Lisa Castillo; and stepchildren, Nimfa and Eddie Valenzuela, Arnold and Marilyn Mendoza, Eric and Rowena Matabang, Sherilyn Mendoza, Carrick Lai, and Lailani Mendoza-Lai, and Irvin Tom and Aileen Tolentino. He was a beloved grandpa to his grandchildren, Jessica McCallum and Danielle Cunningham, Daeman Fraser and Malcolm Fraser, Eric Castillo, Jordan Valenzuela, Gabriel and Elijah Mendoza, Aiden and Micah Matabang, Caleb and Solenne Lai, and Bristol, Lauren, and Eevee Tolentino.

As a troubled young man going through a divorce, Norman found himself on a mission – a destructive mission – fueled by alcohol, desperation, and rage. A life-changing encounter with God miraculously freed him from drinking and set him on a completely different trajectory. God’s charge to Norman to “go back to your people and tell them about Me” became his ultimate mission in life since then.

Starting in the early 1980s, Norman has wholeheartedly served God in the Arctic and across Western Canada on police commissions, as Band manager, and as an Addictions Recovery counselor, among other roles. His fervent desire was to witness his own people break free from the chains of addiction and generational trauma and experience healing and salvation through Jesus Christ. To this end, he partnered with Christian organizations like Ethnos Canada to create a discipleship course that would allow Indigenous leaders to take on the baton of sharing the Good News in their own communities.

As an Elder with the Woodland Cree Nation, Norman helped lead the formation of Indigenous Connections at Kamloops Alliance Church, a ministry that creates space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to listen, learn, and grow together in love, unity, and reconciliation. On May 4th, Indigenous Connections will be hosting the third “Us Together” conference that Norman worked tirelessly to help organize each year.

Norman was a generous and loving person who cherished quality time and meaningful conversations with family and friends. Other things that gave him joy were peaceful long drives, reading the news, drinking his beloved Tim Hortons tea, and though not typically one to favor brand-name clothing, Under Armour shirts that he wore daily for comfort. He will be greatly missed by those who loved him and whose lives he touched.

The family sends their gratitude to the medical staff at Royal Inland Hospital for Norman’s care.

Norman’s Celebration of Life is on Wednesday, April 17th, 2:00pm at the Kamloops Alliance Church.

Please send any fond memories and expressions of condolences to the family through www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com