We are sad to announce the passing of Kent Allan on July 12, 2023, in Victoria BC. He died peacefully under the care of the medical team at the Victoria Royal Jubilee Hospital, with family by his side. Kent was born on December 8, 1935, in Los Angeles, California.
Kent is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Gloria, his only daughter, Julie Muir (Robin), granddaughters Katherine Deigan (Mike) and Sara Turner, his great-granddaughter Nova, his brother Keith Allan (Melba), and many nieces and nephews.
Kent retired as the proud owner of a successful corporate identify company, Kent Allan Design Group (KADG). Over the years he had offices in Victoria, Vancouver, and Calgary, where he assisted clients with their corporate identity programs. He was dedicated to assisting many major companies with their brand identity, such as VanCity, CBC, BC Ferries, Calgary Stampede, Suncor, Norske Skog, and Petro-Canada, to name just a few. His years of dedication and outstanding creativity can be appreciated through many of the logos and brands that continue today based on his professional design work.
Kent will be greatly missed for his kindness and generosity, his quick sense of humour, and his passion for enjoying life to the fullest. He was such an inspiration to us all.
If you wish, in lieu of sending flowers, consider a donation to an organization of your choice.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Myrna Cobb
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Riley Tate Very sorry to hear of Kents passing, though I did not him know very well, I know a true gentleman when I am fortunate enough to meet one.
Our condolences.
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Chris Armstrong I’m very sad to hear of Kent’s passing. I worked for KADG in Calgary early in my design career. Kent was a great guy to work for – he was always friendly and happy. I learned a lot in my time with Kent. My condolences to Gloria, Julie and the rest of his family and friends.
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Stuart Clugston I am so very sorry to learn of Kent’s passing, sadder still to learn that he recently lived only a mile or so away from me. Kent led a number of huge corporate identity programs for me and others in our company and he was a consummate and meticulous commander of detail. But beyond that, I always treasured him for the gentleman he was, gracious, warm and brimming with positive energy. My sincere condolences to Gloria, Julie and the rest of his family. I am truly sorry.
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Rhonda Ganz Working at KADG in the 90s in Vancouver and Calgary started me in a career as a graphic designer. Kent was supportive, generous and encouraging; a mentor to me and many others. I remember three of us returning on an evening ferry to Vancouver after a business trip to Victoria. Rough weather turned the vessel back to Victoria after only half an hour, with no hope of a trip until morning. Kent took us out for dinner, then drove us to his mother’s place on Feltham, where we spent the night. Her easy hospitality in putting up a couple of strangers gave me an inkling of how Kent had ended up the kind and gracious man he was. Kent was unmatched as a boss—no group I’ve worked with since was as talented and collegial as the team he put together. I am better for having known Kent and have spent time in fond reminiscence since I learned of his passing. My sincere condolences to Gloria, Julie and the rest of the family.
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Bud French My late wife Inge and I enjoyed Kent and Gloria as neighbours on Estevan Ave. and I remember the fine garden there. He was a lovely man and I send my condolences to you, Gloria, and to your whole family.
Bud French
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Peter Cocking I was saddened to hear of Kent’s passing. I worked for him when KADG was in Vancouver, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was my first “real” design job, at a real design studio – at the time, certainly one of the best in western Canada. It was a tumultuous, exciting period, with the company growing and shrinking, moving offices a couple of times – always in the same building, on Mainland Street – and a lot of exploration of new technologies, new ideas, and new approaches.
Kent was a wonderful man to work for, and I having nothing but fond memories of my time in his employ. As a boss, he never had a cross word for anyone; he was uniformly kind and supportive, friendly, generous, thoughtful, and considerate. As a creative director, I’ve tried to follow his example in dealing with the people who’ve worked for me – but he’s a hard act to follow.
He’ll be missed. My condolences to Gloria, Julie, and the rest of his family.
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Mike Deigan Deepest condolences to his family. Kent was always kind, positive and curious about everything! A true inspiration to us all.
I was deeply saddened to hear of Kent’s passing. He was such a fine man and an important figure in my life, as a mentor and a friend. He pretty much defined my career in corporate identity when in 1988 I started out with him and the great team he’d assembled at the Vancouver KADG studio. He would go on to trust me with the management of high-profile projects that he and his prestigious design firm were renowned for, including the Norske Skog (Norway) project. This massive, years-long assignment, gave a team of us the opportunity of a lifetime to travel the world. It involved rebranding several new assets worldwide and establishing comprehensive identity guidelines for this global company. It was Kent’s reputation and great relationships that made this possible.
He was a truly wonderful guy: a people-person who savoured characters and good conversation. In turn, he was liked, respected and enjoyed for his big generous personality. He led his design team with humour and understanding, creating unparalleled working environments with good and extremely talented people. He was generous with encouragement, trust, compassion… and fabulous lunches at fine restaurants. I know he will be missed by many for the truly wonderful person he was.
As for me, I loved the guy. He taught me so much. We went through a lot together—even survived a car crash together—and I’ll miss him terribly. I’m so glad I got to have lunch with Kent and Gloria in Victoria last fall. His generous treat, as always.
My heartfelt condolences to Gloria, Julie and the rest of his family.