Obituaries & Remembrances

Obituary: Scott Hylands Douglas

Scott Hylands Douglas February 27, 1943 – July 29, 2026 Scott passed away bravely and peacefully on July 29th, 2026, in Victoria, BC. He was born on February 27th, 1943, in Lethbridge, Alberta. Predeceased by his father, Flight Lieutenant (RCAF 416 Squadron) Walter Norman Douglas (1921-1945), his mother Ruth (White) Douglas (1913-2005), and many other relatives in BC and Ontario. Scott is survived by his loving and devoted wife Veronica, his daughter Rebecca (Keith) Halper, and son Luke. Grandchildren Max and Lucy. Also survived by other relatives in Ontario and BC. Scott was a passionate and professional actor for over 60 years in theatre and film. He was an original founding member of the ACT in San Francisco. His extensive career brought him to many cities all over North America, and abroad. While filming Night Heat in Toronto, he met his wife, Veronica. They married in 1990 and moved to Salt Spring Island, BC where they built their dream home, and raised their…

Obituary: Ronald J. Martin

Ronald Martin August 22, 1931 –June 4, 2026 Ronald J Martin, dedicated educator, leader, lifelong lover of animals, baseball and the arts, passed away peacefully on June 4 at the age of 94. Ron is survived by his wife, two sons, two stepchildren, and beloved cat Alexander. He is predeceased by his dear cousins Marcia and Margo and his daughter Valerie who died of leukemia as a young girl — a loss he carried with quiet strength throughout his life. He earned a BA from Dartmouth and MBA from Columbia before moving to Carmel Valley with his wife Vivian where he ran a newspaper after serving in the US army. He then moved into education, teaching drama at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, and serving as head of Sheridan College’s Faculty Association. He was a prominent member of the OPSEU negotiating team and was instrumental in setting up the CAAT pension plan for college teachers. We will remember Ron for his love of children, his generosity, his loyal friendship and…

Obituary: Bo (Douglas) Filter

FILTER, Douglas Bruce (Bo) May 10, 1945 - January 05, 2026 Douglas Bruce Filter, 80, was born May 10, 1945 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He lived on the family farm with his family. He was active in sports, especially football for the Bison team for the Central City High School. He also played in the concert band, was vice president of the Student Council, class representative and treasurer. When he finished High School he served in the US Navy, stationed in Puerto Rico as an Electronic Technician. After the Navy he graduated from the University of Nebraska with a BA in Psychology and a MA degree in Psychology in Santa Monica, California. He was a counsellor in the US before moving to Canada. During that time in the US, he refurbished a 1931 Studebaker which he later drove to BC to rent out for weddings and graduations. In BC, Bo became very involved in the peace movement and started an organization called S.O.S. (Save Our Seas), the idea being to stop warships from en…

Obituary: Judith (Judi) Claire Stevenson

Judith (Judi) Claire Stevenson November 23, 1946 - March 19, 2026 “When it is over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.” “When Death Comes” — Mary Oliver Our dear friend Judi possessed a fierce, wide-ranging creative intelligence. She was a community-minded social activist, feminist and environmentalist, writer and researcher, an avid photographer, traveler, art aficionado, a loving and loyal sister and friend, and lifelong cat-lover. Judi spent her early years in Nanaimo, BC, where her mother Gerry (née Geraldine Gertrude Browne), a teacher, encouraged learning, and the rich and fascinating time spent with her scientist father Cam (James Cameron Stevenson) at the Pacific Biological Station established her passionate love of nature and enduring interest in environmental justice. After early high school in Vancouver, Judi’s family (now including her beloved younger sister Barbara), moved …

Obituary: Margaret Wooldridge

May 15, 1937 - March 20, 2026 Margaret Wooldridge (Perry) was born in London, England on May 15, 1937 and peacefully passed away with her children by her side at Magnolia Gardens, Langley, BC, on March 20, 2026. She met the love of her life, Alan, in 1954 in Surrey, UK, during the Suez Crisis, where much of the courting had to be on bicycles due to fuel rationing. They were married in 1958 and with their two children, Stuart and Jane, came to Canada in 1966. The family first landed in Edmonton, where they embraced Canadian life and formed life-long friendships. They frequently rented a travel trailer and the family explored as far as Tofino and Coastal Oregon, with their favourite spots being Banff and Fairmont Hot Springs. They moved to Tsawwassen (near Vancouver) in 1972, where Margaret initially took a part-time job at Henry Birks and Sons. She rose quickly within Birks, becoming a department manager and later as a buyer for the silver and fashion accessories dep…

Obituary: Robert (Bob) Lloyd Leslie

Robert (Bob) Lloyd Leslie January 2, 1951 - February 3, 2026 It is with great sorrow and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Bob on February 3rd, 2026. In his final days, he was surrounded by his wife of 43 years, Terri, and their children, Jennifer and Sean, knowing the love of both his family and friends. Bob was born as the New Year’s baby in Whitehorse and spent his childhood in Scarborough. His work in wholesale lumber led him to Calgary, where he met Terri, whom he married on November 12th, 1982. They later relocated to Summerland for the next 27 years to raise their children. Bob was an avid traveler with a passion for scuba diving. He was also deeply involved in the Okanagan sports community, serving as a coach for many soccer and hockey players. His love for mountain biking was evident through his organization of the Action Quest mountain bike race in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Every summer, he would spend time exploring Okanagan Lake …

Obituary: Laurel Joyce Gordon

Laurel Joyce Gordon May 28, 1943 - February 28, 2026 We are saddened to announce that Laurel passed away peacefully and surrounded by love on February 28th in hospice following a sudden, brief illness at the age of 82. Laurel was born at St Paul's Hospital in Vancouver and was raised in West Vancouver near Ambleside. After high school, Laurel trained as a nurse at Vancouver General and worked for a time at St Paul's Hospital before travelling around the world in a Volkswagen van with her first husband, Ken Harrison. Soon after their return to Vancouver in the early 70's, Laurel became a devoted mother to Erika and Kevin, a homemaker, and a dedicated volunteer in the community and in her children's activities throughout their school years. When she met and fell in love with her second husband, Murray Sumpton, they shared a love of travel and exploring new places, including visiting the Southern Gulf Islands by sailboat. Laurel and Murray frequented the shores around Sa…

Obituary: Mark Meredith

Mark Mitchell Meredith April 8, 1943 - February 28, 2026 Mark was born in Vancouver April 8, 1943, and was raised on the waterfront in Caulfield, West Vancouver. His life was shaped by a fall from a cliff when he was 8, leaving him unconscious for 6 weeks and giving him brain damage that left him with challenges throughout his life. After earning a diploma in business at BCIT, he worked in various capacities around Vancouver including promoting Gastown in the early 70’s. He decided he wanted a product that he could make, market, and sell himself. He moved to Victoria and took up pottery, which he mastered. Salt Spring Island became his home in 1978. He was very active in promoting the arts and crafts scene on Salt Spring and was involved in making the Market in the Park the success that it is today. He loved making pots and having people come to his studio. Mark loved talking to people and kept in touch with many he’d known throughout his life. He loved helping …

Obituary: Jocelyn Holmes

Jocelyn Holmes, born July 8th, 1936, to Lillian and Horace Phelps, passed away February 13 at the Victoria General Hospital following a very sudden illness. Together with her brothers Norman, Richard, and Jimmy, Jocelyn (affectionately known as Josie, Jo, Lyn, Mum, Grandma, and Greaty to many) spent her early years watching World War 2 unfold from her home town of Sidcup in Kent, England. She was one of the many children sent to live with host families outside of London, safely away from the London bombings. Jocelyn later met Toni Holmes and, in 1957, they moved to Canada to start a better life. Although this new adventure landed them in Vancouver with no more than five dollars and a bag of oranges to their name, Jocelyn always said, “It was the best thing I ever did.” Eventually they settled on Salt Spring Island in 1976 to finish raising their family. It was here on Salt Spring that both of them felt they had truly found home. Jocelyn contributed to her community in …

Obituary: In Loving Memory of Amos Van Pelt Jr.

Amos Van Pelt Jr., 78, of Salt Spring Island, passed away peacefully at home on December 24, 2025. Born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Amos came of age during the Civil Rights era, an experience that shaped his resilience, compassion, and quiet strength. An accomplished athlete, he attended Ball State University, where he was a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and one of the founders of the Black Student Union. Though recruited by several NFL teams, he chose to play in Canada as a running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. After his football career, Amos remained in Winnipeg and worked as a counsellor at a youth correctional facility, supporting young people with patience, wisdom, and respect. In 1995, he made Salt Spring Island his home. He became a familiar and supportive presence in the local school system as a teaching aide assisting children with special needs and learning challenges. His calm demeanour and steady encourag…

Obituary: Eileen Alma Wttewaall van Wickenburgh (neé McGhan)

November 2, 1932 - February 5, 2026 Our Mom passed away peacefully at Berwick House Retirement Home in Victoria, British Columbia at 93 years old. Eileen deeply enjoyed daily walks and writing her memoir. She followed world events closely, dedicated to her lifelong commitment to environmental and social justice activism. She will be greatly missed by the wonderful staff at Berwick House and by the many friends she made there, whose companionship meant so much to her. As a family, we extend our heartfelt thanks to her dedicated healthcare team, who supported her with compassion through heart and knee challenges in recent years. Eileen was predeceased by her beloved husband Gus, her partner of nearly 49 years, as well as her sisters Viola, Reta, and Joyce, and her brother Alfred. She is lovingly remembered by her three children, Alma Goodwin (John), Kevin Wttewaall (Soraya), and Coreen Cherry (David); six grandchildren, Jenaveve Goodwin (Eric), Katelynn Pederson (Ric…

Obituary: Michel Jutras

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…

Obituary: Kreuger Singh

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…

Obituary: Gloria Hunter

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…

Obituary: Wendy Lynn Bissett

It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Daughter Wendy! Wendy will be deeply missed by all who new her . Wendy is survived by her two daughters Summer and Dallas , Brother Warren , Mom ,Dad and Nana Joyce along with all of her Aunts , Uncles ,Niece , Nephew and cousins . Many thanks and appreciation go out to the wonderful Doctors and Nurses at Lady Minto Hospital , Vic General and Vancouver General during Wendy’s illness . As well, thank you to her close friends who were at her side during her time of need ! There will be no service but a celebration of life will be announced at a later date .

Obituary: Robert (Bob) Christopher Hele

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…

Obituary: Michael Marshall

Michael King Marshall October 19, 1940 - October 20, 2025 Michael King Marshall died peacefully at home on October 20th, the day after his 85th birthday celebration. He is survived by his loving wife Anne of 60 years; his children Melanie (Pete), Tony (Chantalle), and David (Kirsten); his eight grandchildren, Wyatt, Dayton, Ana-Sofia, Dani, Indigo, Cypress, Jade, and Diego; his sister Dawn; his two nephews Chris (Carmen) and Tim (Reina), and his beloved cats, Hunter and Georgie. Mike was born and raised in Montreal and after completing his BSc at McGill. He left home and those he loved most, to "search through education and life experience, for his tomorrows." In 1961, he met Anne Smith working in a Banff camera shop. They exchanged letters for several years while Mike studied medicine in Edmonton. Realizing his family’s tradition of a career in medicine wasn’t for him, and missing Anne, he returned to the Coast where they were married in 1965. The late 60s were “homes…

Obituary: Bruce Duncan Wallace

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…

Obituary: Elinor "Joan" Dumaresq

Elinor "Joan" Dumaresq July 31, 1938 - October 18, 2025 Elinor "Joan" Dumaresq, 87, of Vancouver and Salt Spring Island, passed away peacefully on October 18th, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She will be deeply missed by her devoted husband of 66 years, David; her children Shelly (Ken), Joel (Marousa), Jason, Stefanie (Chris); and her beloved grandchildren, who affectionately called her Nanu - Josh (Laeti), Elijah, Nicholas and Riley - along with her cherished great-grandson Timo. She is also survived by her siblings, David (Judy) and Carolyn (Gerry). Born in Vancouver on July 31, 1938, Joan was the eldest of three children of James "Stewart" and Faye Begg. She was a proud graduate of Little Flower Academy, where she formed lifelong friendships and developed the grace, humour and kindness that would define her throughout her life. In 1959, Joan married David and together they created a family and life overflowing with love and laughter. Joan's proudest role …

Obituary: David Arthur Scott Merrick (Scott)

David Arthur Scott Merrick (Scott) May 12, 1948 - October 21, 2025 It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of David Arthur Scott Merrick, known affectionately to all as Scott, who left us peacefully shortly before 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the age of 77. Following a stroke and an inspiring, long-term battle with cancer, Scott passed away with his best friend, Julianna, at his side. Tragically, Scott's beloved husband, Bruce Wallace, followed him into eternal rest just four days later, in the early hours of Saturday, October 25. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, on May 12, 1948, Scott was a man defined by his boundless creativity and joyful spirit. His professional life was dedicated to education in Vancouver, BC, where he served as a respected teacher, principal, and district superintendent with the Vancouver School District. Scott's fun-loving attitude and innovative approach to leadership made him a cherished mentor and friend to countless colleag…

Obituary: Joan McConnell

Joan McConnell January 25, 1926 – October 1, 2025 Ellen ‘Joan’ McConnell (née Fisher) was born at home in Orange, New South Wales, Australia. The second youngest child and only daughter of Nell (née Thompson) and Thomas Fisher, she was predeceased by her five brothers, Jack, Thomas, Reginald, Keith and Wallace. She met her best friend on the first day of school in 1931 and they became sisters when Joan married Dell’s only brother Allen, a Civil Engineer, in 1947. Joan lost her loving husband 53 years later, followed by Dell in 2004. She is survived by her three children, David, Malcolm and Gillian, granddaughters Airlie and Tegan, and great-granddaughters Amélie, Matilda, Mika and Eleanor. Born in the aftermath of ‘The Great War,' Joan saw the inglorious reality of war at each ANZAC Day Parade (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) and grew up in the ‘Great Depression.’ Her father kept his department store afloat and his staff employed, while her mother and maiden aun…