Donald Robin Gilley

Born in 1931 in Toronto and adopted as an infant, Don attended Trinity College School and then the University of Toronto, where he graduated in engineering in 1953. He worked as a road engineer on various projects in rural Canada. During one stint in Saskatchewan, he met his beloved Frances while playing badminton. They were married in 1958.

Don became interested in corporate finance, and earned his MBA from the University of British Columbia in 1966. His love of Western Canada and his interests in corporate finance came together when a small Calgary-based oil exploration company named Dome Petroleum offered him a position in corporate finance in 1970. By the time he left in 1983, Don had risen to be head of corporate finance, assembling a team that financed one of the most rapid oil sector growth stories in Canadian corporate history and who remain close to this day. They considered it a thrilling ride, and would not have traded it for anything.

Donald and Frances moved to Victoria, BC in 2003 to be closer to their idyllic cottage on Piers Island where they welcomed family and friends alike to enjoy the slow-paced, seaside life.

Don adored his family, and they spent many summers hiking and camping throughout the Rocky Mountains packed into a small tent with the dog. And no matter where his children went around the world, Don was sure to plan a visit. He was always quietly in the background of their lives, supporting, encouraging, and praising. He brought joy and great memories to many lives.

Don was raised with a community mindset and no volunteer job was too small. He gave back to the community in Calgary, Victoria and Piers Island, flooding outdoor ice rinks, organizing cub car rallies, contributing to Calgary and Victoria Opera and helping with road maintenance and community picnics at Piers. He was often called on to take care of the finances of volunteer organizations. He will be remembered for his love of jazz music and his smooth bass lines played on a gutbucket.

An engineer at heart, Don never met a problem or project he would not solve. His corporate finance mentality, meanwhile, found its way into detailed spreadsheets and analysis of his children’s budgets while in university. The “green sheets”, as they became known, continue to be a running family joke.

A faithful member of the Anglican communion, Don served as usher and warden of Christ Church Elbow Park in Calgary and as an usher at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. He was particularly fond of the moving aria in Handel's Messiah taken from the Book of Job: “I know that my Redeemer liveth”, especially when sung by Frances.

Don leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Frances, four children, Heather, Gail, Graham, and Bruce, their spouses, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.