Obituary for Patrick Dickie
DICKIE, Patrick Herbert
December 3, 1959 - June 26, 2022
Labourer, construction worker, trade unionist, lawyer, and sailor.
Loving and loved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
Patrick “Pat” Dickie grew up in Duncan on Vancouver Island. He was a shy and quiet boy, and had a carefree childhood with his younger brothers Peter and Michael. He then became a wild and reckless youth, driving his loving parents Ron and Paula to distraction.
As a young man, Pat worked as a labourer in a shipyard, a sawmill, a scrap metal yard, and a roof truss plant. He also worked in a variety of jobs in construction. In his early twenties, Pat became an activist in the carpenter’s union, an activism that would shape the rest of his life. Pat then moved to Vancouver, where he continued to work in construction and became increasingly involved in union affairs. Curious about the world around him, he also studied international relations at UBC.
Then, on a bit of a whim, Pat decided to go to law school. He headed off to Toronto with Mary, where he attended Osgoode Hall. Following his graduation, the couple returned to Vancouver, where Pat began a career representing workers and their unions that spanned over thirty years. During this time, Pat represented many unions throughout the province, often in large and complex cases. He also founded two law firms, where he enjoyed training a number of fine young lawyers.
Pat and Mary’s daughters, Cait and Kirsty, were the absolute centre of Pat’s life. The family had many memorable adventures in the Gulf Islands, the Outer Hebrides, and the Mexican fishing village of Puerto Angel (one of Pat’s favourite places on earth, that he visited many times over the years). After Pat fell in love with an old sailboat, the family also spent a number of summers sailing local waters, culminating in an unforgettable circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. Pat then took a two- year sabbatical and went sailing, as far north as Alaska and as far south as the Hawaiian Islands, with various family members and friends joining him at different places during the voyage. Following this adventure, Pat returned to practicing law.
Pat became suddenly and seriously ill in the spring of 2021. However, despite his deep sorrow at having to leave his loved ones early, he maintained until the end that he was a lucky man. Pat lived his life with passion, and always tried to be kind to those around him. By that measure, or any other measure that Pat might have cared about, it was a life well lived.
Survived by his partner Mary, daughters Cait and Kirsty, brothers Peter (Kelli) and Michael (Candice), nieces and nephews Brittany (Matt), Karlyn, and Clark, and Jack, Paige, and Cali, and many loving friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CoDev.ca or LeadNow.ca.
A celebration of life held on August 10, 2022 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Rowing Club 450 Stanley Park Drive, Vancouver, B.C.
Visitors and guests to the Vancouver Rowing Club may park in any public pay parking spot in Stanley Park.
The nearest public parking lot is located on the North Side of Stanley Park Drive just past the VCR clubhouse (by Stanley Park Info) *Please note the Service will be live streamed and recorded, to receive a link for the live stream please email mark@mckenziefuneralservices.com
December 3, 1959 - June 26, 2022
Labourer, construction worker, trade unionist, lawyer, and sailor.
Loving and loved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
Patrick “Pat” Dickie grew up in Duncan on Vancouver Island. He was a shy and quiet boy, and had a carefree childhood with his younger brothers Peter and Michael. He then became a wild and reckless youth, driving his loving parents Ron and Paula to distraction.
As a young man, Pat worked as a labourer in a shipyard, a sawmill, a scrap metal yard, and a roof truss plant. He also worked in a variety of jobs in construction. In his early twenties, Pat became an activist in the carpenter’s union, an activism that would shape the rest of his life. Pat then moved to Vancouver, where he continued to work in construction and became increasingly involved in union affairs. Curious about the world around him, he also studied international relations at UBC.
Then, on a bit of a whim, Pat decided to go to law school. He headed off to Toronto with Mary, where he attended Osgoode Hall. Following his graduation, the couple returned to Vancouver, where Pat began a career representing workers and their unions that spanned over thirty years. During this time, Pat represented many unions throughout the province, often in large and complex cases. He also founded two law firms, where he enjoyed training a number of fine young lawyers.
Pat and Mary’s daughters, Cait and Kirsty, were the absolute centre of Pat’s life. The family had many memorable adventures in the Gulf Islands, the Outer Hebrides, and the Mexican fishing village of Puerto Angel (one of Pat’s favourite places on earth, that he visited many times over the years). After Pat fell in love with an old sailboat, the family also spent a number of summers sailing local waters, culminating in an unforgettable circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. Pat then took a two- year sabbatical and went sailing, as far north as Alaska and as far south as the Hawaiian Islands, with various family members and friends joining him at different places during the voyage. Following this adventure, Pat returned to practicing law.
Pat became suddenly and seriously ill in the spring of 2021. However, despite his deep sorrow at having to leave his loved ones early, he maintained until the end that he was a lucky man. Pat lived his life with passion, and always tried to be kind to those around him. By that measure, or any other measure that Pat might have cared about, it was a life well lived.
Survived by his partner Mary, daughters Cait and Kirsty, brothers Peter (Kelli) and Michael (Candice), nieces and nephews Brittany (Matt), Karlyn, and Clark, and Jack, Paige, and Cali, and many loving friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CoDev.ca or LeadNow.ca.
A celebration of life held on August 10, 2022 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Rowing Club 450 Stanley Park Drive, Vancouver, B.C.
Visitors and guests to the Vancouver Rowing Club may park in any public pay parking spot in Stanley Park.
The nearest public parking lot is located on the North Side of Stanley Park Drive just past the VCR clubhouse (by Stanley Park Info) *Please note the Service will be live streamed and recorded, to receive a link for the live stream please email mark@mckenziefuneralservices.com