When Arthur's son, George received his Funeral Director's license, the company was known as "Everest and Son", and later "Everest Funeral Chapel", after Arthur's death in 1945. In 1965, George retired and the company was purchased by J.E. (Jack) Swingler, who operated it until January of 1979.  At that time it was purchased by Alan G. Gardiner, a third generation Funeral Director, originally from Winnipeg (the "A.B. Gardiner Funeral Home", founded in 1882, now "Leatherdale-Gardiner Funeral Homes"). In March of 1979, Alan was joined by his son, John-Bryan Gardiner, the fourth generation of the Gardiner family to enter funeral services.

          Born into the family business in Winnipeg, Alan had originally been licensed in Manitoba in 1955, where he also served as Secretary-Treasurer to the Manitoba Funeral Directors' Association and as the Registrar under the Department of Health Act from 1958 to 1960.  After purchasing the Everest company, he successfully completed his Ontario licensing exams, and received his Ontario Funeral Director's license in June 1979.

          John-Bryan began part-time in funeral service, washing cars, doing maintenance work and covering weekend and evening shifts until he completed his high school in June of 1979.  In 1980-81 he attended the Funeral Services Program at Humber College in Toronto where he also worked at both the "A. Roy Miller Funeral Chapel" and the "Newediuk Funeral Home" before returning to Everest's as an intern Funeral Director.  In an effort to further broaden his experience, he also did a short-term placement at another funeral home here in Thunder Bay.  In 1982, he graduated with honours from Humber College and received his Ontario Funeral Director's License. Today, Alan is semi-retired, but remains as President and majority shareholder of the firm, and still takes an active role in the conducting of services. 

          Over time, John-Bryan gradually began taking a more active role in the day-to-day supervision of the company.  Eventually he became a shareholder and the Vice-President of the firm when he purchased a block of Alan's shares.  Today, as a proud fourth generation funeral director he works as the Managing Funeral Director of "the Waverley Chapel" and the Managing Partner of the Everest Company.

          Prior to amalgamation in 1970, Thunder Bay was the two cities, Port Arthur in the north, and Fort William in the south.  Everest was located in Port Arthur (Thunder Bay north), and rarely did families cross the boundaries to arrange a funeral. Over the years the Everest name has earned a good, long-standing reputation in Thunder Bay, for caring service, and quality facilities.  The name is an established part of our community and it commands so much respect that it is doubtful that we would ever change it.  However, around 1985, the name "Everest of Thunder Bay" was registered and became the operating name of "Everest Funeral Chapel Limited". This was in recognition of the fact that we were now one city, and  to convey to the community that the Gardiner family and the Everest firm was here to serve families throughout our entire city.

          In 1997, once again in recognition of the City of Thunder Bay, and to better serve our community as a whole, we constructed and opened the Everest of Thunder Bay "Westfort Chapel" in the Westfort section of the former city of Fort William. This new facility was designed and built from the ground-up as a funeral home, and was the first new funeral home contructed in Thunder Bay in over 70 years!  At that time, in order to differentiate the two locations, we renamed the original site, Everest of Thunder Bay "Waverley Chapel".

          The Gardiner family's roots in funeral service go back nearly 120 years, to the days of the furniture/cabinet maker's shop, wakes and funerals held in the family home, and horse-drawn hearses and buggies. Bert Gardiner, Alan's father, was considered by many to be a pioneer in "modern funeral service", building one of the first true funeral homes in Canada - in direct response to the needs, wishes and demands of his client families. Today, in response to the needs and wishes of our client families, the Everest name is also affiliated with "Simpler Times", a program designed to fulfill the wishes of a more cost-conscious consumer in our contemporary society, while at the same time honouring the deceased and upholding the traditions of our profession and our community.

          While the funeral "rites" of our society have changed, both the Everest name, and the Gardiner family are here to serve your family with the same dignity, respect and caring service that have been our tradition for generations. 

          "The service you wish, at a price you can afford"

          "Comfort when you need it most".

          Thank you for visiting our web-site, and for providing us the opportunity to tell you about our heritage and the Everest of Thunder Bay / Gardiner family history.  If you have any questions or coments, please do not hesitate to share them with us.

          - John-Bryan Gardiner, Vice-President, Managing Partner.

"The Maples", the original house which became the Everest Funeral Home
On the left is a 1932 Chrysler, on the right is a twin ignition 1930 Nash Ambulance.
 

The original home with the fist brick addition which housed the chapel and upstairs residence (circa 1938)

the Everest Funeral Chapel as we know it today (circa 1961)
On the left is a 1957 Cadillac with a 1960 Cadillac Superior Hearse


Cover of the October 1958 issue of Canadian Funeral Director
featuring the Gardiner Funeral Home in Winnipeg
On the left is the original bilding, the right is the newer portion built in 1930

  
Three of the four generations of Gardiner Funeral Service:
A.B (Bert) 1883-1962, Alan G., Pres. Everest of Thunder Bay,
and John-Bryan, VP Managing Partner, Everest of Thunder Bay.