It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Blaine Thomas Cornwell on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, in Winnipeg.

Blaine was born July 27, 1970, in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was predeceased by his mother Betty, his father Ron, his infant brother Todd, and his beloved sister Heather. He is survived by his cherished children, Sarah and Nate, and their mother, Shauna; his partner Jane and her family; his nephew Eric; his Uncle Lenny, with whom he shared a particularly close bond and friendship; many other aunts and uncles; as well as countless cousins and lifelong friends.

Blaine was the son of Ron and Betty Cornwell (née Kolton). He and his sister Heather spent some of their childhood in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia as well as Oakville, Ontario, but regardless of where the Cornwell family was living, the kids loved summer visits to the Kolton family farm near Beausejour and adventures with countless cousins and extended family.

When Blaine was 11, the family moved to Winnipeg, and it was there at Emerson Elementary in the suburb of North Kildonan that Blaine met many of the guys who would become lifelong friends. This group formed traditions that lasted decades, including the annual May long weekend fishing trip, complete with trophies, t-shirts, and countless shenanigans, an annual holiday dinner at Hy’s, poker nights, and a myriad of curling team adventures throughout the years. It was also through these friendships that he earned the nicknames “Fogman” and “The Fog,” for his famously unpredictable comings and goings.

While attending high school at River East Collegiate, Blaine began working midnights at Safeway at age 16, where he continued to work for over a decade. In 1991, Blaine attended Red River Community College, where he received his diploma in Commerce Industrial Sales and Marketing. He later completed courses in the PMAC (Purchasing Management Association of Canada) program, which led to a career as a sales consultant in the dental supply industry at Lab Depot, where he began in 1995 and worked throughout his lifetime.

While working at Safeway, Blaine met Shauna Lotz, and they were married in 1998. They bought a home in North Kildonan and spent their early years immersed in a vibrant social life — dinner clubs, concerts, weekends on the houseboat at Perch Bay, Grand Beach adventures, camping at Tulabi Falls, countless weddings and socials, and the annual couples’ September long-weekend tradition.

They welcomed their daughter Sarah in 2003, followed by their son Nate in 2005. Blaine loved both coaching and watching Sarah and Nate in curling, as well as softball and baseball, throughout their youth. One of his happy places was a lawn chair on a spring evening with a bag of sunflower seeds at the ball diamond. He treasured playing Lego with the kids and later Mario Kart as they got older, and he was always up for a rerun of Scooby-Doo.

In 2018, Blaine and Shauna divorced but continued to share the lifelong bond of parenting Sarah and Nate. In the years surrounding, Blaine faced some personal challenges while continuing to care deeply about those he loved. He later moved in with Uncle Lenny at the Kolton family farm, where they bonded over Star Trek, lively conversation, and their shared devotion to their two cats, Peaches and Miss Kitty. Blaine was a devoted pet lover and cherished nothing more than a snuggle with a feline friend, whether it be Ed, Rosie, Charlie, or Mac through the years, or the newest two more recently. During this time, Blaine also met Jane, and despite the distance, their relationship became an important and meaningful part of his life.

Blaine was known for his sharp intelligence and unmistakable sense of humour, often dry, occasionally dark, and always quick-witted. He loved a good debate and was endlessly curious, well-read, and thoughtful, with a particular passion for science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and history. He was the person you absolutely wanted on your trivia team! World War II and ancient history were frequent rabbit holes for him, and he could easily lose an afternoon immersed in a book or documentary. When Blaine and Shauna travelled to Europe in 2002, his highlight was Rome, particularly Napoleon’s tomb and the Colosseum, which he spoke of often. Blaine also enjoyed family vacations to Wisconsin Dells, Disney World, Canadian road trips both west and east, and the relaxation and simplicity of week-long summer cabin rentals with the Cochranes.

Music was also an important part of Blaine’s life. He was very musical, achieving advanced standing in piano, and later teaching himself to play the bass guitar. In high school, he was a member of a band called The Cellar Dwellars, an experience that reflected both his creativity and his lifelong love of music. Friends still joke that a cassette tape of their one hit, “Hot Stuff,” must exist somewhere.

Blaine’s musical tastes were as distinctive and wide-ranging as his personality. He loved rock and wore his devotion proudly, especially to AC/DC, for whom he owned nearly every t-shirt imaginable. The Foo Fighters, U2, The Tragically Hip, and Tom Petty were longtime favourites, though his playlists also made room for the unexpected, including Katy Perry. His appreciation for music extended beyond rock to the quieter, more reflective sounds of artists like Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, and Sarah Harmer. But above all, one song came to define him: Copperhead Road by Steve Earle - an anthem that friends and family will forever associate with Blaine.

A Celebration of Life for Blaine will be held on January 22  at 2:00 p.m. at Gateway Community Centre, 1717 Gateway Road. Those wishing to honour his memory may consider a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or the Winnipeg Humane Society. Honorary pallbearers include lifelong friends Braden Cochrane and Shane Kilgallen, as well as Nuno Tavares and Greg Udod.

Forever in our hearts…