November 1, 1962 – May 15, 2024

Bruce left us unexpectedly – so quickly there were no good byes. After a day of splitting firewood and yard work, he sat down in his favourite chair and was gone. Beckoning him in on the other shore were his Mom and Dad (Judy and Robert), his cousin (Jeff), grandparents (Nellie and Baron, Buster and Mabel) and aunts and uncles. Those left behind on this shore are his much loved sons, Scott and Kalvin, his brothers, Tom and Mike, sister Kim, Auntie Joan, his nieces and nephews and many cousins.

Bruce was born at the “new” hospital in Campbell River in 1962. He spent his first years in camp in Theodosia but as kindergarten neared, his Dad built the family a home on Hague Lake on Cortez Island. In 1973, the family moved into a much bigger home in Smelt Bay where Bruce spent the rest of his childhood. Bruce completed his K – Gr 10 at the Manson’s Landing Elementary Junior Secondary school and was in its last graduating class. Boarding on Quadra with his Auntie Joan and Uncle Johnny, Bruce made the commute to Carihi daily during the school year and graduated in 1981.

Growing up on Cortez in the 70’s, Bruce was surrounded by family, extended family and many friends. There were boats and dirt bikes, BB guns and slingshots, swimming, waterskiing, aquaplaning, growing frogs from tadpoles, parties at the Point, swimming at the Rocks. Hanging out with the Pickard clan and Jeffie O. No seat belts or bike helmets needed. One of Bruce’s specialities was scaring the bejesus out of unsuspecting passengers by heading his boat straight for the beach, flipping up the outboard and running the boat up on the sand when it was time to come in. Hilarious if you were in the driver’s seat.
In his Gr 11 summer, Bruce started commercial seine fishing with his Uncle Johnny and cousin Jeff. With his first summer earnings, he bought himself an olive green Ford Capri for his Grade 12 year. He had a blast roaring around in it.

Commercial fishing blended into working for the family logging company until logging became his full-time job. From yarding to loading and driving logging truck to becoming a boom man, he was good at it all. Admittedly though when monkey wrenching, the air could turn pretty blue when that last nut just wouldn’t let go.

From the release of Atari’s home version of Pong in 1975, to making Smurf angels with ColecoVision to epic battles with Rob on Mortal Kombat, Bruce was a world class gamer. No quarter asked, none given. Ask his kids. He also had an extraordinary movie collection. His favourites were action (think Nick Cage and Van Damme) and old school anime but he would watch and enjoy everything. And read. The man loved to read – particularly fantasy – anything R. A. Salvatore or in that style were especially savoured and enjoyed. He passed on his love of reading to his boys.

Bruce loved his boys. He had an infinite amount of time to be in the moment with them, whether it was teaching them skills like carpentry, playing a video game, watching a movie, making a meal or just being with them. This gentleness and quality time he also shared with his nieces and nephews. Bruce was the one who figured out how the kids’ new Christmas games or toys worked and got everyone up to speed. He was also a thoughtful gift giver. Always finding new and unique things, Bruce would give you a gift you didn’t know you needed but instantly treasured. A rare man indeed.

Bruce was a gentle, strong, intelligent, caring and unassuming man who leaves an unfillable void with his quiet absence.

Your presence we miss, your memory we treasure
Loving you always, forgetting you never.