Derek R. Wilkinson
June 28, 1954 – March 4, 2020

Derek lived a good, rich life, and passed away surrounded by love, music and family.

Born in New Denver, BC to delighted parents Tom and Bette Wilkinson, Derek was a cherished little brother to Gail. His early memories included living in England before the family returned to BC, built a home in Tsawwassen and welcomed his little sister Kim. He started learning guitar at age 9, and continued to make and appreciate music throughout his life.

During high school his family moved to Port Alberni. Derek’s first summer jobs were in fish camps and on fire-suppression crews. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at UBC, later trained as a Forest Technician, and hired on with the BC Forest Service. He met Jean Wallace in 1983 at Gail’s house-warming party; they fell in love and were married the next year. Together they renovated their home, created a garden, and built a strong network of friends in Squamish. After traveling in Great Britain and Hawaii, they celebrated the birth of their son Sean in 1987. On top of being a fully-engaged and involved father, Derek commuted to SFU to earn a B.Sc. in Computer Systems, and returned to the Squamish Forest Service office to provide systems support, training, analysis and trouble-shooting. In 1991 daughter Kayli was born, bringing even more joy into the family.

Derek loved being a dad, and sharing day-to-day enjoyment of nature, music, gardening, board-games, movies, soccer and charades made for a fun and active family life. Frequent adventures included camping, cross-country skiing, Peace marches, kayaking, road-trips through Canada and Western US, snorkeling and exploring warm destinations on spring vacations, and a summer travelling in Northern Europe together. Derek also maintained close ties to his parents, sisters and in-laws, regularly visiting and spending special times with them.

After retiring in 2009, he and Jean fulfilled another dream by moving to Salt Spring and happily settling into this special place. Derek thoroughly enjoyed having more time to read, kayak, play guitar, compose music, build and fix things, garden, cook, pursue photography, volunteer at Folk Club, Xwaaqw’um and other gatherings, and meet new friends. Other favourite pursuits included winter travels through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, California, Cuba, Guatemala, Belize and Hawaii, and summer camping trips in the Yukon and throughout BC.

Derek was a kind, strong, quiet man with an intelligent and discerning outlook. He was a very caring, supportive husband who cherished his family and valued his connections to friends and community. He was always learning and thinking, and supported many environmental and social justice causes.

Derek leaves his loving family: wife Jean, son Sean (& Emily), daughter Kayli (& Adam), sister Gail (& Dave) Morton, sister-in-law Ruth (& Brian) Menegozzo, nephews Cedar and Brant, nieces Brooke and Renatta, several cousins, many close friends, and numerous others whose lives he touched in various ways. We’ll always remember his engaging sense of humour, gentle teasing, warm hugs and grins.

Throughout his life Derek faced various health challenges with courage and refused to let them define him. Our deep and sincere thanks go to all the ambulance and medical personnel who provided such compassionate and professional care to him when needed.

We also wish to express our lasting gratitude to everyone who was part of Derek’s life, and to all who have so freely offered their support and condolences on his death. Our hearts are heavy with his sudden passing, but Derek gave us so many wonderful times together and a lifetime of good memories. His love still surrounds and sustains us.

A celebration of Derek’s life will be held on June 28 at Beaver Point Hall on Salt Spring Island. Donations in his memory may be made to the Land Conservancy of BC (conservancy.bc.ca).

ART SIMONS

Art Simons, who died aged 94 on March 3, was an artist, a cartoonist, a fine singer, a longtime Salt Spring Islander, and a quiet activist.

Art was born in Kitchener, Ontario in 1925, spending his youth in Mimico (now part of Toronto). He volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1944, but had the good fortune to not be sent overseas. After the war, he did sign-painting work, enrolled in the Ontario College of Art, and married Margaret Graham, a fellow art student. From 1953-54 Art, Marg, and their newborn son Bob lived in a small cottage in the Toronto Islands; they decided to move to Vancouver when the city began to demolish houses on their island.

Art continued to paint for pleasure when not painting signs for gas stations, building up a portfolio of work (mainly watercolours). Two more sons were born — Ken in 1956 and Wayne in 1963. The family moved to Fulford in the fall of 1966, and Art began work on building a two-winged A-frame at the top of Hilltop Road. It became home to Art and Marg for the next 47 years.

Art drew a weekly one-panel cartoon for the Driftwood for several years up to 1972. The collected Salty cartoons (named for its principal character, a retired ship captain) were also published as an annual, with short comic essays by Art, publisher Frank Richards, and Ed Gould.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Salt Spring became known as a friendly place of refuge for US draft resisters. Art and Marg’s house was a first port of call for many of them, who would stay for a night or a week and then move on to more permanent digs. We remember playing touch football with war resisters on the steep dirt road in front of the house, with half of the action following American rules, and the other half Canadian.

The 1980s saw a blossoming of talent and activism for both our parents. Marg’s involvement in the Peace Petition Caravan, the Raging Grannies, and Voice of Women for Peace was quietly supported by Art, who drew graphics and ad layouts for a wide variety of campaigns: his most enduring illustration was perhaps the Salt Spring Raging Grannies’ “old lady with umbrella and hat” logo.

From the Vancouver Marathon to his daily (or at worst, weekly) 10-kilometre run from Fulford Harbour to the end of Burgoyne Road and back, Art was a one-person advertisement for healthy living. He also found time for music, lending his tenor voice to some of Ray and Virginia Newman’s musical endeavours.

When son Bob was dying of cerebral encephalitis at 45, Art gently took care of his body, as we may imagine he would have done with a newborn.

Art is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marg; sons Ken and Wayne; and seven grandchildren. Special thanks to Kate Peter for her weekly visits to, and dedication and love for, Art and Marg.

Evelyn Margaret (Bennett) Lee

Lee, Evelyn Margaret (Bennett) died peacefully on March 11, 2020, at Greenwoods Eldercare with her daughter Elizabeth at her side.
She was born June 29, 1918, in Seaford, England, to parents John (Jack) Bennett of British Columbia and Alice Rogers Bennett of Rotherfield, England, during WWI.

Evelyn was brought to Salt Spring Island at the age of ten months when her father purchased the farm at the top of Dukes Road. Evelyn is predeceased by her husband Ronald Lee, their three sons Melbourne, George and Baby Lee, and her siblings Mary Mollet, June Stevens and John Bennett. Left to remember her are her daughters Lois Nadin (Peter) of 100 Mile House, B.C., Ronda Farrow (Len) of Dalmeny, Sask., and Elizabeth Lee of Salt Spring Island, four grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 8 great great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ron and Evelyn operated the Fulford Shell Station and Garage in the early 50’s, and later the Ganges Shell Station and Garage. They farmed on Lee’s Hill, part of Ron’s grandfather’s homestead, now Garry Oaks Vineyard. They enjoyed raising sheep and other animals, growing a huge vegetable garden, hunting and fishing. Evelyn was a member of the Women’s Institute, famous for pies, and the Burgoyne United Church Women for over seventy years, and the South Salt Spring OAP. She also canvassed for the Red Cross for many years. She was known for canning and preserving anything and everything edible, baking and decorating beautiful wedding cakes, family get togethers and being a great organizer. She enjoyed travelling to England several times to meet her English family, and to Australia where her father was born and raised.

The family would like to thank Home Support staff for helping to keep her in her home until after her 100th birthday. Thank you to Dr. Butcher for his kindness and support, and the staff of Greenwoods, especially the care aides, for their loving care of Evelyn for the past 1 1/2 years.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Burgoyne United Church, or the Women’s Institute. A service of remembrance will be held at a later date.

Dr. W.W. LANGFORD

At home on 11 March 2020 on Salt Spring Island, B.C., in his 95th year. Beloved husband and best friend of Helen Elizabeth Langford (nee Lindley) who passed away in 1993. Beloved partner and best friend of Ailsa Ruth Pearse who passed away in 2011. Walton was predeceased by many cherished friends and family members. He is survived by his dear sister Patricia Whittier and brother Robert Langford (Barbara), as well as his five children, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Walton grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, and completed the MD program at Queen’s University in 1951. He ran a very busy doctor’s office in Burlington, Ontario, for 32 years, assisted greatly by Helen who held a nursing degree.

Away from work, Walton was an avid downhill skier. In addition, the Langford family enjoyed wonderful summer vacations on Lake of Bays with a large collection of friends and family. Shortly after their retirement in 1986, Walton and Helen visited Salt Spring Island and fell in love with the climate, landscape, ocean and people. They settled in a home with a spectacular view of Active Pass. After Helen’s death, Walton found a kindred spirit and fellow outdoors adventurer in Ailsa Pearse — for over 15 years they enjoyed numerous kayaking and hiking trips, and travelled the world with zest. He also developed a strong environmental consciousness, in keeping with the ethos of Salt Spring Island.

A final word from Walton: “It really was a good trip while it lasted. Regrets? Of course, and expected. That is what life is all about…. No gathering or service requested, and if a donation to your favourite charity is made, thank you.”

Peter Brodie
May 19, 1922 – March 4, 2020

Peter Brodie passed away peacefully at home with daughters Dawn and Robin and his devoted dog Ryder by his side. He was predeceased by his wife Betty in 2017 and his son Scott in 2019. Peter was so pleased when he got the right answer on his favourite show “Jeopardy”.

Peter was born in Big Valley, Alberta and spent his childhood and school years in Calgary. He met his lifelong best friend Betty at Banff Springs Hotel in 1941 where they both held summer jobs. Their early courtship got off to a rocky start with Peter trying hard to make a good impression. He took Betty on a tandem bike ride on a freshly tarred road only to look back to see her covered in oil splatters on her new suit! Other misadventures did not deter them from a wonderful married life for 75 years.

Peter was a WWII Veteran. He joined the RCAF with sights on becoming a pilot but colour blindness steered him to became an aircraft engine technician where he worked extensively on helicopters. Search and Rescue missions took him to remote areas across Canada. Peter and Betty made several moves to air bases across Canada from Moncton to Winnipeg. Now with five children they bought a summer cottage “The Rainbow Ridge”, an acreage with 5 ponies! We were the envy of the air base. Their lifelong love of nature and wildlife was instilled in all the children who often and quite regularly brought home injured birds, stray cats and dogs. Peter was often the “neighbourhood dad” who organized outings for the local kids. He was a whiz in the repair and maintenance department and had tools for every need.

Retirement in 1968 from the Air force in Moose Jaw took Peter and family to Vernon, BC for a career in the optical business. With a menagerie of 6 horses, cats, dogs and 2 chickens Peter and Betty created a stunning garden where they grew 2 tons of raspberries a year, vegetables and variety of fruit on their 7 acres. They formed many friendships through hiking the Great Divide, canoeing Bowron Lakes, cross-country skiing, the Vernon Naturalist Club and many adventurous trips to Britain.

They moved to beautiful Salt Spring Island in 1988, where they established a lovely home and garden and became active members of the Scottish Country dancing group and Garden Club. Peter became a Fickle Fingers Golf member for years. His wine-making abilities was appreciated at many SSI events. How we all loved his superb home-made bread! Peter spent years as a Senior For Seniors scheduler and driver. Peter and Betty walked the Channel Ridge trails always with a dog by their side. In 2014 the family installed a bench “Rest and be Thankful” in their honour for all to enjoy. The bench has been a special place to toast past friends with happy hour sips and celebrations.

Peter leaves behind his family who loved him dearly: daughters, Jill, Joanne (Jack), Robin (John), Dawn, grandsons Stephen (Renee), Jody (Sa), Wes (Amy), great grandchildren, Lucy, Pippa, Georgia, Betsy, Reese and Cade.

Support from his family, Dr. Ryan, Home Care and Community Nursing were wonderful in their support for Peter to stay in his home until the end. Meals-on-Wheels were committed and faithful in their deliveries each day and always had a cheerful word and a dog treat for Ryder. A special thank you to the neighborhood for their daily chats, visits and friendship to Peter.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Brodie home on SSI in June. Date to be announced.