Basil Franey
November 23, 1925 ~ April 5, 2022

Born in London, England, Basil lost his mother at an early age and was raised by his aunts while attending school in Oxfordshire. He lived through the WW2 London blitz, and served in the British Army, including 2 post-war years as a Royal Engineer organizing the return of troops.

In 1949 he set sail for North America, spending four months touring and deciding where to immigrate. He chose Vancouver, and met his wife-to-be, Helen Margaret Simpson, on the transatlantic sailing back to Britain. Margaret’s mother Lena told Basil that he could marry her daughter if he had a viable profession in Canada and asked what he was expert at. The answer was organizing, railways and math, so Lena suggested he enrol in the accounting program at McGill University. Five years later, after travelling back-and-forth between Montreal and Vancouver, he graduated with the highest Chartered Accountant marks in Quebec.

1957 brought eight months of work with the BC RCMP investigating corruption in the Sommers scandal, travel throughout Europe, and the birth of his first son, Alan. In 1958 he was hired as ‘VP, Administration’ by Grosvenor Laing, a UK-based company that built Annacis Island, SFU, and numerous buildings, bridges and shopping malls in Greater Vancouver and Victoria. Basil and Margaret moved to the Deer Lake area of Burnaby, and 1959 brought the birth of his second son, Ian. In 1973 Basil became ‘VP, Administration’ of Daon Development, one of the most successful development companies in BC history. Also that year, Basil and Margaret welcomed a foster daughter into their home, Caroline Grieve.

Basil retired in 1980, and with Margaret, purchased a beautiful property at Isabella Point on Saltspring Island, moving back-and-forth between there and Solana Beach in Southern California for 8 years until deciding Saltspring would be their permanent home. Soon after Margaret’s death in 2011, Basil worked with the Saltspring Conservancy in placing an ecological covenant on his most treasured section of land right at Isabella Point.

Basil had a keen mind and many interests, including model railways, building, classical music, and travelling. He was fortunate to be able to live a very active life, and that determination continued right through to the end. His last hurrah was driving his beloved Ivy to Medicine Hat just a few months ago. Basil will be very fondly remembered by those who survive him: Alan and Ian and other family members, including grandsons James and Evan; Patricia Colley, his half sister, and her family; and Ivy Anderson, his romantic partner late in life.

Basil was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer last summer, and had prepared for MAID, but was able to die relatively peacefully at home. Special thanks to all the kind caregivers, doctors, nurses, friends, and neighbours who helped us through this challenging journey. A memorial service is being planned for Vancouver this summer.

Stanley Eldridge Wiseman

Stanley Eldridge Wiseman born February 1941 passed away at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria surrounded by family on April 13, 2022.

Stanley is survived by his 1936 Ford truck “Freddie”, son Chad (Lori), daughter Roxanne (Noel), sister Joan (Herb) and brother Les (Judith), granddaughters Victoria, Courtney, Ashanti, and great-grandchildren.

Stanley was born in Rock Bay and grew up in Port Alberni, moving to Gibsons and finally resided on Salt Spring Island which he loved. Stanley was a veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy, retired from a career with B.C. Ferries and held every other job imaginable in between. Stanley was extremely creative and a master woodworker, he was a friend to many and always willing to help lend a hand. Stanley always had a limerick, a joke or a tall tale to share. Stan loved his family dearly and his children were especially important to him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Heart and Stroke Foundation.
In the immortal words of Stan the man…“Taker cool man”

Margaret Edith Simons
August 4th 1929 ~ March 18th 2022

Marg passed peacefully with her son Wayne holding her hand. Marg was born and raised in Toronto. While at the Ontario College of Art she met fellow student Arthur, her husband of 67 years.

Marg and Art honeymooned in the Rockies and ran a youth hostel at Miette Hot Springs. Son Bob was born shortly after in 1953. After Ken and Wayne were born (1956 and 1963) the family moved to Salt Spring Island and in 1966 Marg taught art at the elementary school for several years. In the early to mid 70s she taught adults a variety of art subjects including Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Marg was an early exhibitor at ArtSpring and in the 70s Marg grew into being a pioneer of social justice on Salt Spring “think globally act locally”. She was a founding member of Ometepe Coffee Collective, Raging Grannies, Voice of Women (she was sent to Geneva as a delegate for Voice of Women) and many other causes; example, Arpilleras from Chile.

As family, one of the endearing memories of the last three decades was Art and Marg’s magic Tuesdays where they would roam on bicycles, foot and ferry within a 100 km radius of Salt Spring keeping detailed illustrated journals of those journeys. Marg and Art sold the family home in Fulford in 2015 and spent a few happy years in Meadowbrook, then in declining health they shared a room at Extended Care.

A big thank you to the staff of Extended Care particularly in the last 2 years while Marg was alone there. Marg was predeceased by husband Art in 2020 and son Bob in 1999, she leaves sons Ken and Wayne and seven grandchildren.

Glenn Roy Charge

Passed on Monday, March 28 suddenly but comfortably in his 91st year. He is survived by his common law partner Shelagh Tulloch, by two sons, Dic (Ellen) and Lawrence (James) and by five stepdaughters, Allison, Lorraine, Jennifer, Cathie and Mary-Anne and three stepsons Les, Allan and Scott as well as an extensive group of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and their children. Glenn was predeceased by four of his siblings (Dick, Maxine, Diane and Brenda) and is survived by his one remaining sister, Linda (Joe).

Born in Winnipeg, Glenn studied at the University of Manitoba while serving in Canada’s military. He went on to enjoy a career in electrical engineering with General Electric (Schenectady) and Ontario Hydro (Richmond Hill) before retirement. After the heartrending loss of his second wife Jeanne, Glenn moved to the Vancouver Island area and lived first in Duncan before moving to Salt Spring Island to be with Shelagh.

Throughout his life he pursued time in the great outdoors and showed passion and skill at home renovations, curling, and photography. He also enjoyed traveling, seeking out that next photograph or great meal. In later years, Glenn took up running for fitness and even tried golf for several years – he was a frequent tournament marshal at local clubs on the Island to earn tee times. He also spent several years as a community policeman in Duncan and frequented the Legion.

Always quick with a joke or a funny story, Glenn enjoyed having a glass of wine and was always trying hard to make people laugh, to make the right choices and to treat the people in his life fairly. A vigorous defender of his views, you could always count on lively ‘discussions’ on a wide range of topics and he loved to ‘hold court’ with family and friends alike. Expressing affection was not his strong point as he was more demonstrative than vocal, but we know he cared deeply for those in his life and he was loved in return. His departure saddens so many, and he will be missed.

By his request, there is no formal celebration. Family will gather in the summer for a private celebration of his life. Glenn asked that in lieu of flowers, donations might be given to the Heart & Stroke Foundation and/or the Salvation Army.

Tracey Braiden (Poole)
1957 ~ 2022

Tracey left us peacefully in the evening of April 8, 2022, following a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Born in North Vancouver in 1957, Tracey spent her childhood at Long Beach, Ucluelet and finally Salt Spring Island. Tracey loved Salt Spring and following her marriage to her life partner, Ross, they decided to spend the rest of their lives here. She leaves behind three sons, Shawn, Ben and Ian, and one grandson, Henry.

Tracey may best be remembered for her role as a teacher at the local high school, where, over many years she had a very strong influence. Everyone respected “Mrs. Braiden” for her caring yet no nonsense attitude that helped change so many lives at the high school. Tracey worked with students, starting in the Gipsy Program in the 1988, right through until 2017 at GISS. Her patience, as a mother figure and as a caring teacher to hundreds of students, left a lasting impression. Tracey was always coming up with ideas to enhance the students’ experiences, often making way more work for herself, but never minding. And she never hesitated to speak up for what she thought was right for the kids, no matter who she went toe to toe with!

We would like to express our thanks to Dr. Verheul and the health care folks at extended care, for their wonderful dedication and loving attention during Tracey’s time there.