Michel Louis Jutras September 10, 1946–December 10, 2025 Michel Louis Jutras passed away on Dec. 10, 2025, at his home in Qualicum Beach, B.C. He was born Sept. 10, 1946, to Cyrille Jutras and Bernadette Lepage in Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover, Que. After attending seminary as a teenager, Michel ventured across Canada and discovered a taste for life out west. He later explored central Canada, the east coast and Central America, finding adventure both on land and at sea, before returning to B.C. in the late 1960s. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in anthropology and French literature from The University of British Columbia. Initially on track for an academic career, the call of the ocean proved irresistible. Michel spent the next 40 years fishing B.C. coastal waters while living in West Vancouver, Tsawwassen, Victoria and Salt Spring Island, where he settled in 1979. He moved to Qualicum Beach in early 2025. Michel was happiest on his boats — Blue…

Puneet Kreuger Singh passed unexpectedly on November 6, 2025—under a North Node in Sagittarius—leaving behind a global constellation of friends, artists, seekers, activists, technologists, and loved ones transformed by his presence. Born on March 2, 1973, in Yangon, Myanmar, to diplomat Virendra Singh and vocalist-artist-socialite Rita Niloufer Singh, his childhood unfolded across continents—Moscow, Venezuela, Tanzania, Jamaica, and beyond—where he absorbed rhythm, culture, injustice, beauty, and complexity in equal measure. His love of synthesizers, specifically his yellow Waldorf Q, and electronic sound ignited in his teens and grew alongside his immersion in the early IT world of the 1990s; by 21, he had already founded his own company, Mindcraft. In Toronto, he became a force in the underground arts scene—launching the culture-fusing collective Suhana, co-producing major events through JyaFest Arts Collective, and later founding Bass Dojo on Salt Spring Island. Amo…

Gloria June Hunter: June 3, 1950 – November 19, 2025 Gloria was born in Dawson Creek and grew up in Fort St. John. She spent her teen years in Langley. At a young age Gloria accepted Jesus as her Savior. Although at times she drifted away, her faith remained an anchor deep in her soul. She chose a career in nursing and studied in Vancouver. Her work took her from Vancouver to Fort St. John and then back to the lower mainland. Many of those years she worked as a single mother while raising her daughter Jenna. In Fort Langley she met Dean Smith, the love of her life. They were married in March 1990 and raised Jenna, and later Jenna’s children, together. After a long career, in late 2016, Gloria retired from her career as director of care at the Northcrest Care Centre in North Delta. Gloria and Dean had many friends. Gloria’s faith had been reawakened and she returned to church in Langley. She made sure her grandchildren had the opportunity to attend Sunday School a…

Robert (Bob) Christopher Hele August 24, 1934-November 17, 2025 It is with heavy hearts that we wish to announce the passing of our wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, Robert (Bob) Christopher Hele. Born on Saltspring Island August 24, 1934, he passed peacefully in the Lady Minto Hospital on November 17, 2025. We are eternally grateful for the kind, attentive and respectful care Dad received from all of the staff at Lady Minto. Dad led an exceptionally well lived life of hard work, adventure, innovation, love of his family and this great land he grew up on. He possessed an exceptionally quick and dry wit, was a deeply loving man to his wife Diane of 70 years and to his daughters Christine, Catherine, Suzanne and Alexandra, his grandchildren Nadia, Zane, Robert, Madison, Claire and Jacqueline, and his great grandchildren Liam, Novalee, Cohen, Esme, Sienna and Coco, and his son in laws Saubrie and Richard. We all adore him and will miss him ter…

1945, June 3 - 2025, October 25 Bruce Duncan Wallace Bruce passed away peacefully, in Lady Minto Hospital, in the early morning of October 25th. He was 80 years old. He passed away from cardiovascular disease complicated by pneumonia. Sadly, Bruce's husband, Scott Merrick, passed away 4 days before on Oct. 21st. Bruce was born in Vancouver on June 3, 1945, where his father was stationed with the navy. After the war ended they moved back to their hometown, Edmonton AB, where Bruce grew up. Bruce received a BSc from the University of Alberta with double majors in Entomology and Philosophy. When he was in his early 20's he and his younger brother, Tim, bought matching Norton 650s motorcycles. They enjoyed happy times riding these together before Tim passed away in March 1972. Bruce moved to Calgary where he worked at William Roper Hull Home as a child care counsellor, in cottage settings for adolescents with parental problems and court referrals. He met Waltraud (Wa…

STIBBARDS, Jacalyn Grace September 21, 1954 – August 16, 2025 Family and friends of Jackie are mourning her untimely passing at her home on Saltspring Island. She was inspiring, dynamic, and vibrant; and had a heart as big as all outdoors. Jackie was predeceased by her mother Mary, father Jack, older sister Lynn, and older brother Bill. Other members of the family had gone in fairly recent times: aunts and uncles that she and her siblings were close to. In addition to a legion of good friends ranging from Vancouver Island to the Nicola Valley and beyond (Australia, Europe) she leaves behind her loving son Dylan (father Neil), sisters Tracy, Wendy, Audrey, brother Keith, and several cousins. She was also an enthusiastic and loving stepmom to Neil’s children and grandchildren. Born in Westlock Alberta, Jackie lived in Quesnel and Fort St. John in her early years before her family moved to Saltspring Island, where she graduated from Gulf Islands Senior Secondary. Movi…

Douglas Box: January 4, 1937 - September 29, 2025 Doug, “ the Bamboo Man”, passed away on September 29, three weeks after cancer surgery. He was 88 and he and his wife, Merle, had just celebrated 64 years of marriage on September 9. Doug grew up in Saskatoon but moved his family to Dawson Creek in 1966 where he worked for BC Hydro. Eventually the family made its way to Salt Spring and arrived here in 1976. Doug worked for many years as a lineman /foreman for BC Hydro but retired at age 59. He worked with a carpenter to build his home on an acreage on Thomas Road where he and Merle started their plant nursery business. Doug’s passion was propagating and growing plants. He became fascinated with bamboo, and he grew and sold specimens from his property, the Bamboo Ranch, for twenty years. He knew the latin names and characteristics of the dozens of varieties he grew, and he enjoyed talking about them to his customers. Doug was a life long learner. He taught himself silver…

Michael Sean Vane-Hunt April 24, 1948 - July 5, 2025 In loving memory of a caring father, brother, uncle and great uncle. Michael shuffled off this mortal coil suddenly and unexpectedly. Left to mourn are his cherished son William, sisters Rosamund (Patrick), Mary (Richard) and Caroline (Andy), brother Martin, nieces Tarka (Greg) and Selchie, nephews Jordan, David, and Cyrano (Bianca), great nieces Amber, Aurora and Kiona, great nephews Devon and Eli (and Eli's father Aaron), as well as cousins in UK and Canada and many friends from his school days and around the world. Michael was predeceased by his parents and his nephew, Ilan. A kind and loving father, Michael (known as Muncle Merp to his nieces and nephews) was the family patriarch. He was always ready to lend a hand — felling trees, building walls, fences, bridges, advising on projects and such. He cared for his mother, Isabel, at home for several years before she died. Michael was the family peace-maker. His w…