1974 – 2022
Matthew ‘Matt’ Jason Atwell passed away in British Columbia on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at the age of 47 years.
Matt was born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia on December 19, 1974 and split his childhood between Calgary, Alberta and Wolfville, playing the sport he lived for, Hockey. He obtained his post-secondary education at Acadia University in Nova Scotia. Matt spent some time in the Canadian Military prior to working at Purolator for a number of years. After Purolator, he worked at Carmacks then moved over to ATS Traffic, where he worked for the last nine years of his life.
He married and moved to Innisfail, Alberta in 2012, where he became a beloved and respected coach as well as a devoted fan of Innisfail Minor Hockey and Innisfail Minor Lacrosse. Matt’s favorite pastimes were meeting friends for a craft beer, watching any level of hockey, especially his boys’ hockey, and WHL, and, more recently, kayaking and exploring beautiful British Columbia. Matt loved his family, friends, hockey, and travel.
He will be lovingly remembered by his mother, Dawn, his stepfather, Bill Fietz, his son Bowen, his two stepsons, Darian and Declan, and his wife, Annette (Smith). He will also be deeply missed by his brother, Michael, his stepbrother, Guy, and his stepsister, Cindy.
Matt was predeceased by his father, Mitchell Atwell, a brother, Jeff, both sets of his grandparents, and a stepson, Zachary Smith.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Matt’s Life that will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 104, 5108 – 49 Avenue, Innisfail, Alberta on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. There will also be an informal Celebration of Life held in Calgary, Alberta in the spring of 2023 for those unable to attend the Celebration on December 6, 2022. If desired, Memorial Donations may be made to the Veterans Food Bank of Calgary, #1 4619 – 6 Street NE, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 3Z6 or at www.veteransfoodbankofcalgary.ca. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006
