Steve Bacovsky, a longtime leader in Western Canada’s motorcoach industry and the owner of National Motor Coach Systems and International Stage Lines, died Oct. 29 at Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary. He was 69.
The cause was pancreatic cancer, according to his obituary.
Bacovsky spent over 40 years in the motorcoach business. He began with a single bus in the late 1980s, organizing ski and excursion trips for friends, and went on to acquire National Motor Coach Systems in 1992.
Under his leadership, the Calgary-based company grew into one of Western Canada’s largest fleets, expanding to more than 50 coaches. He later acquired International Stage Lines of Richmond, British Columbia.
Lifelong devotion to Alberta
Born and raised in Coleman, Alberta, Bacovsky remained deeply connected to the Crowsnest Pass community, where he organized reunions, supported fundraising efforts, and promoted the region he affectionately called “The Pass.”
He moved to Calgary to attend Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and began his career as a long-haul truck driver, logging countless miles across Canada and the United States before transitioning to the motor coach industry in 1988. That same year, he participated in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Calgary.
Bacovsky was known for his enthusiasm for Calgary and the Calgary Stampede, which he attended annually and where he sponsored a tarp in the Rangeland Derby for several years. A devoted rodeo fan, he traveled to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas for more than three decades.
He also loved road trips, especially those taken with his son, Steven, including drives along the Alaska Highway, Route 66, and to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Friends and colleagues remembered him as a loyal and generous companion with a booming laugh and an unmistakable presence.
Bacovsky is survived by his son, Steven John Bacovsky; his sister, Rosemary Bacovsky; brother-in-law, Bill Trefanenko; and nephews, Quinn and Reilly Medcke. He also leaves many extended family members across Alberta and Saskatchewan. He was predeceased by his parents, Steve Sr. and Polly Bacovsky; his sister, Annamay; and his brother, John.
A celebration of life is scheduled for Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Heritage Park’s Gasoline Alley in Calgary. Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP to sales@nationalmotorcoach.com.
