Lois M. LESLIE

July 11, 1949 - February 17, 2026

Lois Mary Leslie, aged 76, died peacefully on 17 February 2026 in Victoria, British Columbia, not far from the ocean where she sought much solace in her final months. Though gone too soon, Lois lived a long and full life devoted to family, friends, career, and personal growth.

Lois was born in Vancouver on 11 July 1949 and grew up in Burnaby, Surrey, Fort Fraser, and Prince George with her mother and father, Agnes and Chester Leslie, and siblings Brian, Lorraine, and John. Lois initially chose a career in nursing, attending St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Victoria, a path that took her to Zambia where she met Paul, her soulmate and future husband.

Following the birth of her children, Maritia and Christopher, Lois graduated from University of Birmingham School of International Studies before deciding to pursue a career in law. She graduated from University of Saskatchewan Law School and later completed a Master of Laws at University of Ottawa. Lois found clear purpose in a pursuit of fairness and social justice. She chose work that allowed her the privilege of supporting the voices and rights of those who too often go unheeded. While her legal career touched many people in Canada and around the world, she was deeply involved with the negotiations and implementation of the land claim agreement that resulted in the self-governing Territory of Nunavut.

In her personal life, Lois expressed a profound love of art, including novels that spoke to the human condition, music of any genre written or performed to touch the heart, and paintings, film, or sculpture that offered moments of reflection. Even in her final days, she was not without a stack of books at her bedside and continued to take joy in sharing stories and insights with friends and family.

Lois traveled extensively, finding beauty and spirit equally in mountains and shorelines untouched by humanity and ancient cities filled with history and culture. Along with Paul, Lois was an avid cyclist. Over the last fifteen years, they together covered over 15,000 kilometers across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

In her final year of life, less able to explore the outside world, Lois read extensively on philosophies of death and dying. Through meditation, study, and yoga she focused her mind, body, and soul in preparation for her next journey. She remained curious, analytical, and questioning until her last breath.

Lois will be lovingly missed by her husband Paul, her daughter Maritia and husband Steve, her son Christopher and wife Shinyoung, grandchildren Jade, Rhys, Emme, Alice and Eliot, siblings Brian and wife Anne, Lorraine and husband Norman, John, many nieces and nephews, and a vast extended family of dear relatives, friends, and colleagues.

An Honouring of Lois's life will take place on 19 March 2026, 11am at the Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion. Donations to Ovarian Cancer Canada, Victoria Hospice Society, or Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada would be gratefully accepted.