November 20, 1924 - December 17, 2024
In loving memory ~
Ed Peck died in the early morning hours of December 17th, 2024, in White Rock, BC. He had reached the milestone of 100 years of age less than a month before. In August, he and his beloved wife, Barbara, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Ed was born on November 20,1924 in Victoria, BC to Cyrus and Kate Peck. He was raised in the home his father built on idyllic Robert's Bay immediately north of the town of Sidney. His formative years were marked by boating, fishing and hunting in and around North Saanich and the Gulf Islands with his brothers, Joe and Doug.
This all changed in 1939 with the outbreak of World War II. Like many young men of his generation, he enlisted at 18 years of age. He served with the 16th Battalion Canadian Scottish, saw his first action in France in August,1944 and was wounded in October during the early stages of the Canadian Army's liberation of Holland.
When the war ended, he returned home and attended the University of British Columbia graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1949.
Thereafter he began his career with the BC Power Commission in Victoria. Ed then moved to Vancouver in 1962 to work at BC Hydro where he was eventually put in charge of managing labour relations during the construction of the Peace River and Columbia dams. The challenge was to keep labour peace while these vital parts of our province's infrastructure were being built.
He next established the first labour relations arm of the towboat industry following which, in 1974, he was appointed a Vice-Chair and the CAO of the newly founded BC Labour Relations Board - the first of its kind in Canada. In 1982, he was made Commissioner of the Compensation Stabilization Program after which he became Commissioner of the Industrial Relations Council. He was a ground-breaking mediator and retired in 1991 after devoting most of his 40-year career to overseeing and working on labour relations in this province.
During those years he also dedicated time to his community including a stint in the 1980s as a member of the board of the BC Lions Football team.
He remained very active over the ensuing three decades of retirement. He played tennis, had many rounds of golf (shot his age at 90) and took up lawn bowling. He was also very social and travelled with friends and family. Travel highlights include attending the 1992 World Series in Toronto (he loved the Blue Jays) with his son Cy, touring war memorials in France with his son Richard and going to Augusta for the Masters golf tournament with his daughter Cheryl and son-in-law Mike. Ed went back to France in 2017 for the 100-year anniversary of Vimy Ridge where he spoke at the nationally televised event.
One of his great accomplishments in retirement was writing a book about his father, Cyrus Peck, V.C. which he worked on for many years with the help of his wife Barbara, son Richard and nephew Jim among others. The book was then published in three separate print runs.
He was a prolific reader, did the daily crossword puzzle, was a dab hand at bridge and cribbage and was adept on the dance floor. He enjoyed a good Martini (gin, very dry with one olive) and was an engaging raconteur. He was also a very good listener who was always interested in others.
Never one to miss a good time, he was surrounded by family and friends for his 100th birthday party at a favoured locale - The Boathouse in White Rock.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; their son, Cy and their daughter, Cheryl (Mike).
He is also survived by his son Richard (Mary), his four granddaughters: Kathryn, Shauna, Cydney and Devon; and six great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his son, Tim and his brother, Joe.
His was a life well lived and he will be greatly missed.