June 25, 1933 – Dec. 1, 2011
John passed away on December 1st 2011 at Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island. John was born on the 25th June 1933 in Glasgow , Scotland to William and Margaret Cassels and immigrated to Toronto in May 1954. He served with the Toronto Mounted Police for 15 years before moving to South Carolina with his family where he had a successful Dairy Queen business. They returned to Canada and settled in Victoria in the early 1970s and owned and operated Tradewind Imports in Hillside Mall. He then moved to Salt Spring Island to retire but returned to work at Thrifty Foods in Ganges and thoroughly enjoyed his new Island lifestyle. John was an avid golfer and member of Salt Spring Island Golf Club and is sadly missed by his PGA friends. John will also be remembered for his love of dogs and was seldom surrounded by less than three canine companions. John is survived by sons Jim (Leila) and Michael of Victoria; as well as five grandchildren and one great-grandson; sisters Jean Gilchrist and Maureen (James) Wilson in Scotland; brother Douglas (Patty) in Victoria; and seven nieces and nephews. John’s family wish to acknowledge their gratitude to his dear friends Alan and Margaret Wooldridge; Peter and Maureen Rowell; Elizabeth Lee; and Dr. David Woodley for their care and support through John’s struggle with dementia. A memorial Celebration of John’s Life will be held on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 2 pm at the Harbour House Hotel, 121 Upper Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island.