8th Dec 1964 – 11 Nov 2024 (59)
1 & 3 PPCLI
Mark was born to face challenges. Seven days after his birth on December 8, 1964, he faced a typical Red Deer blizzard with a 1000 wind chill on his journey home from the Red Deer Hospital. Six months later he was sleeping on pine boughs in a lean-to on the Ram River west of Rocky Mountain House. He then took a break from his adventures to attend school and a move to St. Albert.
Being somewhat bored with school, after Grade 11 he joined the Katimavik youth program where he spent nine months doing community service in Port Hawkesbury, Ontario; Bear River, Nova Scotia and Elk Point, Alberta. With his association with several French speaking colleagues in the program he became fluent in the French language.
Upon returning from Katimavik, he completed his Grade 12 at Paul Kane High School and then joined the service industry in St. Albert and Edmonton. Still waning for a challenge Mark embarked on what turned out to be a 20 year career in the Canadian Armed Forces, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, retiring with the rank of Sargeant.
During his military career he met many challenges on Peace Keeping missions in Somalia with the Canadian Airborne Regiment, and then in Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In 2006 he was assigned to HUMINT (Human Intelligence) operations in Afghanistan where he and two other colleagues drove around in a beaten up Toyota truck gathering information on the Taliban. In order to fit in with the locals they were instructed to let their hair and beards grow. They tossed a coin to see who would wear a burka riding in the back seat, driving around the country, gathering intelligence from the locals. On leave while in Somalia, he travelled to Kenya and was the only one, other than the guide, to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. His last challenge in the military, after he returned from overseas, was as an instructor on Advanced Mountain Operations. He was revered by his comrades as a leader who challenged them to be better, at whatever they do.
Retiring from the Armed Forces at age 43 he slowed down to developing advanced skills in instructing First Aid, CPR, and WHMIS and completed Emergency Medical Responder training before becoming qualified in various medical cannabis programs which included security training. Still needing more challenge, he enrolled in a Kung Fu School in China and as an instructor in Muay Thai (kick boxing) in Thailand. As an active parachutist, he continued his love of jumping out of airplanes until August of 2022.
And finally, the greatest challenge of his life – facing terminal cancer. Mark passed away on Armistice Day with a poppy pinned above his heart.
Mark will be lovingly remembered by his parents, Marge and Ken Allred, brothers Paul (Diane) and Keith, nephew Thomas, as well as his close friend Blaine, and many other family members, friends and former colleagues. He will be deeply missed by his beloved miniature Aussie Shepherd: Argo.
As per Mark’s wishes, he will be cremated with no formal service. His ashes will rest in peace in the Field of Honour in the St. Albert Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Veteran’s Food Bank, Edmonton Branch.
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