Allan John Mulholland

Allan John Mulholland

It is with sadness and shock that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Allan John Mulholland on October 23, 2025, at the age of 61.

Allan is survived by his daughter Alexandra, his former wife and Alexandra’s mother Kerry (née Timms), siblings Chuck (Cindi Knight), Ian (Barbara), and Colin, nephew Connor, his longtime girlfriend and soulmate Maggie Hardy, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins in the Maritimes. He is predeceased by his parents Louise (née MacPhee) and John.

Allan was born on July 6, 1964, in LaChine, Quebec. The work of Allan’s father took the family to Australia for four years before their return to Canada, which was highlighted by a three-week voyage on the SS Arcadia that took the Mulhollands through the Indian Ocean and along the Atlantic coasts of Africa and Europe. After a brief stay in London, the family returned to Canada in January of 1972 for a short stint in Montreal and then to Edmonton. They would make one final move to St. Albert in 1973.

Al and his brothers attended Albert Lacombe Elementary, V.J. Maloney Jr. High, and St. Albert High School. Allan graduated from the welding program at St. Joseph’s High School in 1984.

Al’s work life had him plying his welding trade at truck body shops, working in fabrication shops, and constructing offshore drilling rigs. As he completed his journeyman training, he was recognized for his prowess in both theoretical and practical elements of the trade. Expanding his repertoire, he established his own business, Crucible Designs, in the 1990s. One of Al’s most prolific projects was a postcard holder that he designed and constructed, which became a staple in many a restaurant foyer in Edmonton for years.

In the first decade of the 2000s, Al would certify as a pipefitter and start plying his trade with Local 488, with repeated stints in Fort McMurray, Fort Saskatchewan, Redwater, and Refinery Row.

The arts were Al’s passion—the more alternative and obscure, the better. He was a longtime volunteer with the Edmonton Folk Fest and the Yardbird Suite. His musical tastes were unique and enigmatic, to say the least; if anyone else had heard it, he didn’t want to listen to it. After spending his youth believing that disco was the bane of his existence, he would become a passionate aficionado in his later years.

From silversmithing jewelry to designing websites to crafting bespoke wood and metal furniture, Al was creative in many ways. He loved movies and would spend countless hours immersed in their worlds. While he would watch almost anything, he had a deep love for classic sci-fi and horror, as well as art films and anime. This penchant for cinema and moviegoing led to a decade-long career with Metro Cinema. His work there included serving as Facility Manager, where he applied all his knowledge—from carpentry to plumbing to general tech wizardry—to maintain the aging facility, preserve its spirit, and move it toward the future with cutting-edge technology. Above all, he was committed to keeping the vintage charm of the cinema alive for new generations, all while sharing his zeal for the theatrical experience.

We will miss the Al we knew: his acerbic comments, self-deprecating humour, eclectic wardrobe, and the truly singular collection of gifts he would share each Christmas.

Rest in peace, Allan.