BOURDIN, Gerard Noel

 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gerry.

Born in in Laurier, Manitoba, the youngest of 11 children, his early farm life was dominated by his Dad’s sawmill business. At a tender young age he was charged with duties such as driving a team of horses pulling loads of lumber on sleds from the sawmill back to the farm.

The family eventually moved to Vancouver, where Gerry attended Gladstone High School and was a star football player on the Gladiator team. Gerry quit school in the 11th grade to help his family financially, but not before meeting his future wife, Barbara. They were married on September, 16 1955. A few years later, with great joy, they welcomed their daughter and son.

Always a hard worker, Gerry helped his Dad, Leonard, on the weekends building houses, during the week he began his plumbing apprenticeship and attended night school to complete his certification. Four years later, at the age of 21, Gerry became the youngest Master Plumber in BC.

In 1961 Gerry went to work in Fort St. John doing plumbing on housing for local oil patch workers. He loved the wild country and years later, together with partners, purchased a property at Pink Mountain and constructed a hunting cabin.

While plumbing during the day, he quickly took up construction in his spare time, founding Lancer Construction in 1965, then in 1967, Lancer Contracting Ltd. Gerry did plumbing in many downtown Vancouver high rise buildings and built many fine homes in North Vancouver.

It was plumbing that brought Gerry to Salt Spring Island when he was contracted to do the plumbing on the new (and still existing) Bank of Montreal building in Ganges. 

He quickly fell in love with the island and it wasn’t long before a lot was purchased on Cusheon Lake and a cabin pre-fabricated in Vancouver was brought over and erected. The family has many fond memories of the weekend ferry trips over to the island to enjoy swimming and relaxing.

When Wayne Bradley was hired to do some bulldozing at the lake property he happened to mention that his parents wanted to retire and sell their mink farm on Fulford Ganges Road. A deal was made and it was there that the family settled where Gerry enjoyed 55 years of gardening, farming, wine making, fishing local waters and sawmilling, his true passions apart from raising his family. Annual hunting trips to northern B.C. were, of course, mandatory.

The construction and plumbing business thrived on Salt Spring as it had in Vancouver. Gerry leaves a legacy of many fine projects on the Island which includes of course, the Lancer Building. 

In 1978, he and several partners built and for 13 years operated, the Fulford Inn Neighbourhood Pub. Being a people person with a passion for cooking, Gerry and his co-owners welcomed the local community and visitors to enjoy a “pint”, something delicious to eat and good times by the fireplace. It was a thriving success and those fun days at the Fulford Inn still live in the heart of many islanders.

Gerry was a very generous and community minded person. He was the type that would give you the shirt off his back, happily share his knowledge and give you a hand. Gerry initiated and participated in many community projects donating his time, material and expertise to many structures that the community enjoys to this day. 

Gerry was a life -long learner and loved new challenges. Whether perfecting his sourdough bread recipe, designing and building bird houses, making wine or learning to operate his IPad Mini so he could stay connected with the world, he never gave up until he had mastered his task. 

Over his 88 years, Gerry had many dogs and cats. He was a fervent animal lover and was as devoted to them as they were to him. He planted a fruit tree at the farm in memory of each beloved pet.

Gerry leaves to mourn Barbara, his wife of 68 years, daughter Kellie (Perry) son Jay, grandchildren Travis (Robyn), Ferron (Ryan) & Brianna (Ron), great grandchildren Layne, Chase, Charlie, Jaxson, Sophie, Noah and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Dr. Holly Slakov, Dr. Peter Verhuel, Dr. Ian Gummeson, and the exceptional nursing staff at Lady Minto Hospital. 

Additionally, a very special thank you to family friends, Pam Fetherston and Jenny Pickering, also, community nurse, Karen Hunsberger, Lynn Vanderwekken and Meghan Johnson all of whom so graciously helped care for Gerry so he could stay at home through his final years. As per Gerry’s wishes there will be no service and no flowers requested.