JON BRIAN AUNE

November 12, 1939 - May 21, 2025
Jon Brian Aune, C.P.A., passed away peacefully at his home in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, on May 21, 2025. He was 85 years old. Although the last years of his life Brian battled Alzheimer's, he would be the first to say he crammed in three lifetimes during his prime. He lived by the adage: "work hard, play hard," and did not like to miss out on anything, especially a good time.

Brian was born in Vancouver, BC, to parents, Ornulf and Louella Aune (nee Stangland). With his brother, Keith, Brian spent his childhood going to school in Kerrisdale and running amok at his family cabin during summers in Point Roberts, Washington. His father had a retread tire business and a stable of horses, and his mother was a strong-willed character with an infectious laugh, who was one of the first women to be accepted into UBC Law School before leaving to raise her two boys.

Brian eventually attended UBC as well, but only briefly. By his own admission he was not the best student, so he needed a profession he could start immediately, that would also pay him and could lead to a career. After one year at UBC, he left to start articling at accounting firm Frederick Field & Co. While Brian was busy finishing his CPA designation, he married his first wife, Sharmion E. Murray, in 1965. It was around this time that a childhood friend introduced him to the world of investment banking in Montreal. After spending a week there, Brian is quoted as saying "if this is investment banking, this is for me." Brian got an interview at Nesbitt Thomson and, soon after, Brian and Sharmion were moving to Montreal so he could start what would become an historic career at one of Canada's oldest and most reputable brokerages.

By 1970, Brian had taken effective control of Nesbitt at the age of 30 – a remarkable feat for anyone his age. He spent his first decade at Nesbitt Thomson learning as much as he could from his mentor: A. Deane Nesbitt. Prior to Mr. Nesbitt's untimely passing in 1978, Brian's business card simply read 'Assistant to the Chairman', even though he was obviously more than an assistant. He did this out of reverence for Mr. Nesbitt, but it is a perfect example of the class he would exemplify throughout his life and business career.

Brian always felt that his greatest asset in business was recruiting talent. He loved mentoring people. He is most proud of the group of partners he recruited over the years, many of whom went on to become some of the most successful and well known in Canadian business. He maintained close friendships with many of them long after his Nesbitt years.

In 1975, Brian and Sharmion welcomed their first and only child, Jonathan. They divorced in 1980, at which time Brian was granted primary custody of Jonathan, but the couple maintained a lifelong friendship filled with mutual respect and appreciation. The '80s were a time of immense change in the Canadian investment banking industry. Brian played a prominent role in that change, including leading Nesbitt to be the first brokerage firm in Canada to go public, and then, just a year later, being the first to sell to a Canadian bank – the Bank of Montreal.

Brian retired from Nesbitt in 1990 at the age of 50 – a secret life goal of his – and opened his own private investment firm, St James Financial, with his friend, Paul Vien (1934-2014). He still worked hard, but once he no longer had clients, he considered himself retired.

Brian's post-Nesbitt work life remained busy and esteemed. He maintained his passion for supporting the businesses of friends and young talented entrepreneurs. He went on to hold pivotal board positions with several influential Canadian corporations, including Teck Resources, Power Financial, Canadian Steamship Lines and Constellation Software. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals in 2002 and 2012, respectively, and was inducted into the Investment Dealers Association of Canada (IIAC) Hall of Fame in 2016.

Not surprisingly, Brian was very philanthropic too. He was not just generous with his money, but more importantly with his time. He dedicated himself to many different charities throughout the years in his beloved adopted city of Montreal, including the YMCA, Concordia University - where he became a governor emeritus - and the Montreal General Hospital. To continue Brian's thoughtful legacy, in 2019 his family created the Aune Foundation in his name to support the fight against Alzheimer's and mental health.

Brian may have been known by some as a workaholic, but his personal life was rich with travel, golf, fly-fishing, and dear friends and family. He found a true-life partner in Ruth Glenen, who was his right-hand in business (from all the way back to the '70s at Nesbitt Thomson) and then in life. Ruth eventually "caved" and married him in their favourite church on Maui in 2009.

Together Brian and Ruth saw the world with their friends. They took cruises to many exotic locales, at one point making it all the way to Antarctica. They travelled Europe extensively, as well as some of Asia. They also loved unplugging at Cheuter's Brook Lodge, their favourite fly-fishing camp in New Brunswick, where Brian fished into his 70s despite experiencing sight issues from macular degeneration.

Brian and Ruth loved travelling the world, but they always ended up back at their two favourite spots: their beautiful home in Magog, Quebec, and their beloved Maalaea Surf in Kihei, Maui. It would be impossible to quantify all the joy and fun they had hosting friends and family at both. There were many golf games in Magog and Maui too. Brian never quite managed to conquer his game, but he was always optimistic that the next round would be his breakthrough.

Brian moved permanently back to his roots in BC after he started to slow down. He lived out the rest of his life in peace at his beautiful home in Tsawwassen overlooking the Strait of Georgia.

Brian is survived by his son, Jonathan (Georgia), step-granddaughter, Melina; and his brother, Keith; his nephew, Trevor; niece, Shayna; and great-niece and nephew, Nora and Silas. He also leaves behind many dear Aune and Stangland cousins and countless friends. He was predeceased by Ruth in 2018.

The family would like to thank Brian's cousin, Stacey Greatrex and his wife, Michele, who moved in with Brian after Ruth's passing. They took on the responsibility of Brian's primary guardians and loved him as if he was their own father.

The family would also like to thank Brian's full-time caregivers, affectionately known as Brian's Angels: Yvonne, Angel, Krissel, Anne, and Bebsie, who were with him until the very end. The care and love they gave him allowed Brian's final few years to be very full and happy. They took him on daily road trips, sometimes as far as Harrison Hot Springs, Chilliwack, and Squamish. Brian attended their family gatherings, including a wedding, a christening, a baby shower and many Christmas parties. The family feels that this vibrant life full of love and dignity allowed him to live much longer with Alzheimer's than most.

Brian always said, "the world belongs to the listeners" and he certainly lived by this motto. His patience and wisdom left a profound impression on all those he encountered. The impact he had on the investment business, his partners, and his friends and family reverberate to this day. He may be gone, but for those that knew him, he will never be forgotten.

A small private service will be held in the coming weeks in Tsawwassen, BC, with a celebration of life to be held towards the end of October in Montreal.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Aune Foundation's leading partners: The Alzheimer's Innovation Fund at The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at UBC. Donations can be made online at give.ubc.ca/Brian-Aune, by calling 604.827.4111 (toll free 1.877.717.GIVE), or by mail at 500-5950 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3.