November 19, 1921 ~ April 10, 2013
Douglas John Roy, known to all as Doug, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2013 in his suite at Christenson Village in Gibsons. He was 91.
The family invites you to a gathering to honour Doug on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Legion Hall in Roberts Creek. There will be a brief ceremony of remembrance at 1 p.m. followed by stories and mingling.
Doug was born in Dauphin, Manitoba to Ines and Francis Roy on November 19, 1921. His family moved to Winnipeg where he completed high school before going on to earn a degree in Engineering at the University of Manitoba. After his marriage to Helen (Heath) in 1943, he served overseas in England. Following the war he worked as an engineer and land surveyor in both the public and private sectors. In the 1950s he started his own businesses, Roy Engineering and Roy & Wagenaar, offering engineering and land surveying services on the Sunshine Coast and Lower Mainland.
It was his work as a land surveyor that first brought Doug and Helen to the Sunshine Coast in 1955. At that time, he was supervising the land surveys for the transmission line being built between Cheekeye and Powell River. Helen and Doug bought land in Roberts Creek in the late ‘50s and the family spent summers there. After starting Roy Engineering, Doug divided his time between Roberts Creek, Vancouver and other locations throughout the province until, in 1975, he and Helen moved to the Coast as full-time residents. Doug maintained the engineering side of his practice until 2000.
Doug’s strong belief in and sense of responsibility for community prompted his involvement in a wide range of activities throughout his life. He served as president of the Association of BC Land Surveyors, was vice-chair of the Fair play for Cuba Committee and was actively involved with the Unitarian Church in Vancouver. On the Sunshine Coast, he was a key player in the development of what became the Sunshine Coast Community Services, initiated public discussion of a community plan for Roberts Creek, was a founding member of the Sechelt Marsh Society, actively promoted the creation of Cliff Gilker Park and volunteered for the Gibsons Jazz Festival and the Festival of the Written Arts. Doug was enamoured of birds and wildlife throughout his life and spent much of his later years drawing them. Finally, he was a staunch supporter of and believer in the Nation of Roberts Creek.
In addition to Helen, Doug is survived by his daughter Susan (Jacob Stoller), his grandsons Mark, Jonathan and Benjamin Stoller, his son Peter, his adopted family Marie-Belle Treat, Willie Bulmer, Shannon, Kellei, Matthew and Taylor, his sisters Betty de Bruyn (Jan) and Mary Jean, his brothers Frank (Judy) and Pat, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Heartfelt thanks are extended to the homecare workers of Vancouver Coastal Health, the staff at St. Mary’s and Holy Family Hospitals, the caregivers and staff at Christenson Village as well as many friends and relations for their care and support over the past year. A special thanks goes to Llewlyn Keats, Rob Marion and Gail Newman.