Salt Spring Exchange

November 10, 1931 — February 26, 2020 Our lovely and magical Murray Shoolbraid is gone; he slipped peacefully into the hereafter at Victoria General Hospital after a short illness. Murray was born in the wee village of Kinglassie, Fife, youngest son of William and Mamie Shoolbraid who lived at 11 High Street, Leslie, Fife, as generations of family had done, for 210 years. Murray’s Dad was a third generation Scottish and Highland dance teacher, and after his early death, his wife Mamie continued teaching, with young Murray, a natural piano player, providing the musical accompaniment for the many classes. A great lover of books Murray worked in Glasgow as a librarian’s assistant for some years, becoming an avid book collector and folklore expert along the way. In 1961 he joined his sister Mary in Vancouver, B.C. who worked for the CBC as a make-up artist. Murray, perhaps inspired by his National Service stint in the British Navy, enrolled at UBC and completed his MA d…

Madaleine Patricia Jordan passed peacefully on January 17th, 2020 in Victoria, surrounded by loving family. Madaleine suffered a long battle with Alzheimer’s and spent her last years under the wonderful care of the Oak Bay Lodge staff in Victoria. Madaleine was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 13th, 1937. Within her life, Madaleine went to secretarial school, lived in New York City, engaged in major social and political movements, and took a once in a lifetime backpacking trip around the world. She became a nurse, lived on both of Canadas’ coasts and eventually made a home living close to family on Salt Spring Island. Salt Spring provided friendships and a real sense of community while being close to nature. Madaleine will be greatly missed by: her daughter Beth (nee Macdonald) and her husband Colin Drummond, her sister Susan (nee Jordan) and her husband Doug Chaffee, and step sister Marsha Francis. Her granddaughters and their partners: Katie (nee Proctor) and…

SHARON HAWKE July 3, 1954 – February 14, 2020 Sharon always wanted to be a farmer. One of five daughters born to Reginald and Hellen Hawke in Sweetsburg, Quebec, she grew up in Ottawa and Thornhill, Ontario. From an early age she exhibited an adventurous spirit, a strong work ethic, and a love of animals and nature, working alongside her Uncle Stuart on his Quebec farm at every opportunity. After earning a degree in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, she went prospecting in the Yukon where she met Gene Drzymala, the man with whom she would spend the rest of her life. Together, they travelled Mexico and Central America, drove across Canada annually to visit family, and built a love-filled life on 10 beautiful acres near Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island. Alternating summers between boating extensively in British Columbia’s and Alaska’s coastal waters and farming at home, Sharon and Gene lived a life of their own choosing for 40 happy years. Eight grandchildren and…

Louie (Laurits) Herman Lorentsen, August 1921 – January 2020 Louie passed away peacefully at Lady Minto hospital on January 12 at the age of 98 years. Louie was born in Norway and immigrated to Canada in 1929. He helped support his family during the depression by hauling coal. Later he worked as a seaman on the west coast and joined the Merchant Marine and then the Air Force during WWII. At that time, he met his life long partner of 75 years, Bunny. In 1946 he joined the BC Forest Service where he worked in various coastal communities until his retirement after 35 years. Louie and Bunny retired to Saltspring Island in 1979 where they were lifelong members of the Rod and Gun Club, and active members of the Sons of Norway. Louie was known for his accordion playing throughout the island. He was predeceased by his wife Bunny, and son, Larry and is survived by his children Louise, Lynne, Lenore, Lorne, several grandchildren and great grandchildren. There will be an in…

Lama Tsenjur passed away peacefully on January 24th 2020, while on a visit with family to Vienna. Lama Tsenjur Rinpoche was the first Senior Spiritual Teacher of KKC-KDOL from 1972 and in fact the first Lama of the very first Kalu Rinpoche Centre in the west. He bravely agreed to the request of the previous Kalu Rinpoche to come to teach in North America. Lama Tsenjur taught Tibetan, Chenrezig meditation, and introductory Buddhism to several of the students who went on to do the first three year retreat in the west, supported many others who later did the three year retreats at KDOL on Salt Spring Island, and introduced numerous others to Tibetan Buddhism – many of whom are still practising today. Lama Tsenjur (and Lama Trinley Drubpa) managed the difficult transition in 1976 when almost all of KKC’s main students and sponsors left KKC for a three year retreat in France. During that period, Lama Tsenjur worked tirelessly to build up at the newly purchased retreat land (KDOL)…

Meg Kelvin Buckley, Jan 3, 1931 to Jan 12, 2020. Meg lived a full and inspiring life. Born in the south of England to Leigh and Edith Jennings, Meg was the oldest of four children and grew up during WWII. She studied at King's College in London to become a registered nurse. Meg married Geoffrey Buckley and emigrated to Port Alberni BC in 1956 where she first became interested in pottery. She moved to Vancouver and raised her daughter Anne on her own, working as a nurse as she transitioned into full-time potting. In the 1970's Meg was part of a cooperative pottery studio and store, Tansar Crafts, on 4th Ave. It was an expressive and free time in the Vancouver arts scene. In 1973 Meg met Tony Maidstone which was the beginning of a loving partnership that lasted decades. Part of the back to the land movement at the time, Meg and Tony moved to Saltspring Island in 1980. Together they created the simple country life they loved and Meg built a large gas fired kiln and pottery s…