When asked to describe Lethbridge resident Art Ferrari, friends don’t hesitate to say he was a charismatic
and proud north-side Italian Catholic who made you feel like you were the most important person in the world.
Ferrari, 63, passed away July 30 at his home in Lethbridge.
A principal at Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects, Art began his post-secondary education at Lethbridge College, graduating in 1968 with a diploma in Merchandising Administration before earning a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. After several years in the business community, he returned to school, obtaining a degree in architecture from the University of British Columbia.
In his role as an architect, Ferrari’s firm has helped shape the community through creations such as St. Martha’s Church, Lethbridge Regional Police headquarters, numerous award winning schools and Lethbridge City Hall. The firm also recently completed the new City of Lethbridge Fire Headquarters as well as the new Community Arts Centre, which is currently under construction. Ferrari and his colleagues were prime consultants for Kodiak House, the newly opened residence on the Lethbridge College campus. The firm is also a key developer of the college’s Campus Development Plan, a vision of the school for the next 30 years.
Dr. Tracy Edwards, Lethbridge College president and CEO, remembers him as an immensely positive and accomplished professional who gave so much back to Lethbridge College and the community. Ferrari was incredibly proud to be “a local boy who contributed to the city through his buildings.”
In 2007, Ferrari was humbled to be honoured as Lethbridge College’s 50th Distinguished Alumnus by the Office of Alumni Relations. To date, the event honouring Ferrari remains the largest ever held. To demonstrate their commitment to Lethbridge College and to Art’s industry, he and his wife, Sharon, established the Art Ferrari Award, an entrance scholarship for a first year Engineering Design and Drafting Technology student.
Moments after saying grace at the 2008 Distinguished Alumni event honouring his friend, Lethbridge Regional Police Chief Tom McKenzie, Ferrari announced the birth of his first grandchild, Connor, which had occurred only minutes earlier. A proud father to three daughters–Carla, Nicole and Sarah–Ferrari missed the birth of his second grandchild, Isabella, by one day. With another granddaughter, Emma, on the way, there will be many family and community stories to share with his grandchildren about the remarkable man their grandfather was.
