Virginia "Ginny" Gareau

Ginny was predeceased by her parents and sister, Colin, Virginia and Nancy.

She’s survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Paul, daughter Alison (Dar), son Colin (Sue), granddaughters Amadea and Chloe, as well as her sister Jean and a large extended family.

Ginny was foremost an environmentalist, social activist, a devoted partner to Paul, and amazing Mom and Grandmother. She was a recycling devotee from the early 1960s; one of Victoria’s most prolific letter writers to the Times Colonist, an avid gardener, an uncompromising “green” investor all of her life (to the consternation of her financial advisors), an ardent campaigner for many progressive politicians and a preservationist of all that deserved to be preserved (perhaps outside of the kitchen!)

In 1950 she graduated with her BSc in Biochemistry (one of 3 women in a class of 150) at McGill. This was after having met the love of her life when she missed her train connection and had to board a different one (sans luggage) which was, however, carrying Paul back to their University in Montreal.

The two married in 1951, and Ginny worked in various labs to support her husband who graduated from Medicine in 1953. After spending 3 years in Saskatchewan, where Paul interned then did general practice in Arborfield, SK, they returned to Montreal for 3 years of postgraduate training followed by two years in East Grinstead, England where Paul was a Registrar(Resident) at the Queen Victoria Hospital (a wonderful 2 years which gave rise to Ginny’s life-long love of the UK).

On return to Canada, the family of 4 drove from Montreal to Victoria to establish a plastic surgery practice and make a home.

Ginny devoted her free time to many causes and organizations: She volunteered at The Horticultural Centre of the Pacific through the 1990s and into the 2000s, serving as President in 1996. She was one of the founders of Bluepeace – a local group, created in the 1970s, to protest the passage of single hulled super tankers plying the waters of the Salish Sea. She helped set up the Victoria chapter of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War in 1981; serving as treasurer and being an absolute stalwart for the organization. A lifelong supporter of all the Arts, she also served on the Board of the Victoria Art Gallery in the 1980s.

In the words of her nephew, Richard Gareau:

An emancipated woman from a generation that shunned and discouraged such efforts; An involved activist who researched topics before taking a position, and was then, still open to dialogue from anyone who did not share her convictions; An involved citizen, who took the time and effort to write and question her government representatives, her views being researched and thoughtful; An environmentalist before the word became fashionable, who by her actions, was a pioneer that walked the talk; Someone who was not afraid to confront the cynical and indifferent, even at the price of derision; And yet, someone sensitive, considerate and who knew how to laugh even at herself; A woman who also knew love, sharing her affection and convictions with a great man, who loved her back profoundly, for being the great woman she was.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to an organization of your choice dedicated to protecting the environment which Ginny held so dear.

Mom was captivated with the following poem by Clare Harner:

Do not stand by my grave, and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep—

I am the thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints in snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle, autumn rain.

As you awake with morning’s hush,

I am the swift, up-flinging rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight,

I am the day transcending night.

Do not stand by my grave, and cry

I am not there, I did not die.