PHILIP ELDER

Philip (Phil) Elder passed away in Toronto on May 7, 2025, at age 84, after three years of treatment for lung cancer. He died peacefully, in the company of family. Phil leaves his sister, Lynne Lee; his wife, Janet Keeping; and four children – Matthew Elder (spouse, Christine; children, Kyle Sager, Stephanie Sager, Kelsey Sager, Arianna Elder and Quinn Elder), Emily Elder (children, Malakai Elder-Fernandes and Isabella Elder-Effoduh), Jim Elder, and Beth Elder (spouse, Chris Dewey; child, Maya Dewey). Phil was born in St. Catherines, Ontario, in 1940, but the family soon moved to Gananoque in the Thousand Islands, where he developed his love of "messing about in boats." While in the naval reserve, during his student years at Queen's University, he discovered the west coast of Canada and resolved to go to law school at UBC in Vancouver. He then did a master's degree in law at the London School of Economics. When he returned to Canada, he worked for Pierre Trudeau's leadership campaign and then as a Cabinet aide in the federal government. Phil then taught law at Western University for three years, but the critical juncture in his career came when he was hired to teach in the Faculty of Environmental Design (EVDS) at the University of Calgary. Phil thrived in that interdisciplinary milieu where his colleagues included a philosopher, an economist, scientists, engineers, planners, architects, and other designers. Several of those colleagues became close friends, and some were part of his crew for sailing adventures on the west coast. Soon after his move to Alberta, Phil became involved in politics, which he loved. He was central to forming the Calgary Urban Party and was running for mayor in 1980 under the CUP banner but withdrew when Ralph Klein entered the race and looked sure to win (which he did). Phil ran for the New Democrats in the 1982 provincial election, substantially increasing the party's vote share in his riding, which prepared the ground for an ND victory there in the next election. During their many years in southern Alberta, Phil and Janet were often to be found in the mountains cross-country skiing or hiking. As their children came along, they loved camping in such glorious places as Kananaskis Provincial Park or Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. In 2018, Phil and Janet left Calgary, not because Alberta had not been good to them – it had – but because the grandchildren were in Ontario. Although they missed their good friends in Alberta, they had a great first year in Toronto. Then the pandemic hit, and as those restrictions abated, Phil was diagnosed with lung cancer. We sincerely appreciate the fine medical care Phil received from family physician, Kayla Walderman, and all we encountered at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto General Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, Runnymede Health Centre, and Toronto Grace Palliative Unit. A special shout-out to Nurse Angie Burke and Dr. Lawson Eng at the Princess Margaret, and two people from Internal Medicine at Toronto General, Doctors Kim and Hang, who were compassionately honest at a pivotal moment. If so moved, please donate to an anti-poverty, affordable housing or environmental protection organization of your choosing. Wishing you peace, love and respect, Phil's family.