Adam Ustik Obituary

USTIK, Adam June 20, 1939 – May 20, 2021 Adam was born in The Pas, Manitoba then moved to Victoria with his family in 1942. He lived in the 600 block of McKenzie Avenue for 64 years where he and his family enjoyed farming and gardening. His interest in English Rugby started while attending Victoria High School and Victoria College, continuing with the James Bay Athletic Assoc. and The Old Boys Ebb Tide RFC even after his retirement in 1995. He also was a member of the Y Health Club since 1973. Playing Rugby allowed him to travel extensively, taking him to the World Cup in Wales, England and Australia. Playing with the Ebb Tide also took him to Japan, Hong Kong and Chile. He traveled to Jamaica, Cayman Islands and The Bahamas with the Velox Rugby Club. Moreover, he had the pleasure of attending the World Junior Rugby Championship in Dubai, Northern Ireland and Wales. In addition to Rugby, he also enjoyed playing Canadian Football. He played for the Mayo Vampires and established a Bantam Team, the Gordon Head Chargers. He was also a Trainer/Manager for the JBAA Mustangs. Adam enjoyed outdoor sports, such as hunting, fishing – salt and fresh water and camping. He hunted deer from Sooke to Eve River, Caribou Gang Ranch, and Elk Valley. He hunted moose in Prince George and Alaska Highway. It was on these extensive trips to our back country that he saw the devastation of our environment the Provincial Government has and continues to allow. His employment history started as a construction laborer, then a wood worker at Sooke Plywood. He started a 30 year career in the BC Government with BC Parks Branch for 7 years, then Search Management Instructor where he developed a Search Management Course. His Tenure with P.E.P. lasted 17 years. He then completed his career with the Motor Vehicle Branch of BC for 6 years as a Development Officer. He joined the Langford Fire Department as a volunteer while working for BC Parks Branch. His Union Activism began when he was elected Chairperson of Local 1101 of BCGEU of Engineering Technical Inspection component. He became Vice President of BCGEU then Regional Vice President for Region 1. His interest in politics began as a youth thanks to his family who instilled in him the need for a working class political party, the CCF then NDP. Adam was thrilled when we finally rid this province of the Liberal Party (a Socred /Conservative amalgam) Government. He hopes the NDP will succeed in bringing forward legislation for the people not the corporations. Adam wants to extend his thanks to his longtime friends too numerous to list. However, there are a few he must mention. George Jones Q.C. who gave him the nickname "Comrade" , also Wayne Laughren, Russ Leech and Rick LaValla of Olympic Washington. His ashes will be interred at Royal Oak Burial Park along with his mother Alexandra, father Samuel and brother Andy Ustik. A celebration of life will be held on a future date.

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Published by Victoria Times Colonist from May 29 to May 31, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Adam Ustik

5 Entries

wayne laughren

October 23, 2021

I met Adam some 60 years ago, Adam was a regular customer at my Dad's restaurant and they became life long friends, as did I. Adam was a great influence on my life, a mentor that always had time to give me advice. I am so thankful for your kindness to me and my family. Adam had a great love for the outdoors and we spent many weekends hunting and fishing at Eve River(just north of Kelsey Bay). Those were fond memories of our friendship. Our last fishing trip together was 14 years ago, before his health started failing him. Adam, Andy(brother) and myself participated in the annual Pro Pats Legion fishing derby. Our goal that day was not to win the derby but to catch a fish bigger than one of his colleagues(an ex commercial fisherman) that had a friendly rivalry with Adam. We managed to land a 28 pound chinook salmon(second place) and Adam finally beat his fishing rival. There are so many special memories of my life long friend that I reflect on, especially now that you have passed. Adam always said that he should write a book, I wished he had. Our family will miss you at our many Christmas and birthday dinners. I am so very grateful for our friendship you were like a brother to me and I will remember you always, may you Rest In Peace.

Russ Leech

August 20, 2021

To say that Adam was a man's man, a character , or one of a kind, would indeed be an understaement. He and I had been friends for fifty years, and shared many adventures both good and bad. I found him to be quite gruff on the surface, but kind, considerate and helpful to those in need. He had high, if idealistic, hopes for a better world to come.
During our tenure in the BC Government, and in our roles as leaders in the BCGEU, Adam and I fought many the battle with the employer, and sometimes got involved with some within our Union. Adam was proud of the many contract advances that he instigated on behalf of BCGEU members. A legacy that has and will continue to enrich the lives of thousands of workers in the years to come.
It was Adam who peened a resolution to the BC Federation Of Labour that subsequently led to the change of name of the Second Narrows Bridge to The Iron Workers Memorial Bridge in Vancouver to honour those workers whose lives were lost during it's construction.
It was hard indeed for me to see Adam's health deteriorate over the last several years. The hardy and bosterous man I knew and loved as a brother faded into a mere shadow of himself and in the end required assistance to do even the simplest of chores. A sad end to a person I consider to have made the world a better place for being here. A man I am proud to have had as a loyal and trusted friend.

Yvonne Sinclair

June 13, 2021

I was so sorry to hear of Adam's passing. We worked together for many years at the Provincial Emergency Program and he had so many interesting and amusing stories to tell. We also shared a few adventures outside of work, which included canoeing, a day trip to Salt Spring Island and a day of cruising the logging roads behind Sooke, which ended with the demise of his little Russian Lada. I had promised Adam that when I retired I was going to show up for a visit at his weekly retiree coffee klatch. Four years ago I was happy to have been able to surprise him by showing up and keeping that promise. I'd brought some old Director's memos from our work days with me and we both had a good laugh about them, especially the one about limiting the clutter allowed in people's offices, which no doubt had been written with Adam in mind. Adam was a good workmate and friend and may he rest in peace.

Buddy g Bhandar

June 10, 2021

Thank you Adam for your contributations . New your brother Andy and met your parents with haying on their property off Mackenzie .

David Lowther

June 4, 2021

Adam Ustik is why the Second narrows Bridge is named after the Ironworkers who died building it. I was there when he made the motion at the Victoria Labour Council and seconded it, and was at the BC Fed Convention where it passed after Adam's moving speech.

That was just one of Adam's many accomplishments, but it reflects what kind of man he was and how he saw the world. A good, kind, hard working man whose eyes were set on a better future. He will be missed.

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Adam Ustik Obituary

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