Edward Gibson

GIBSON, Edward Mark Walter
1934 - 2012
Edward Mark Walter Gibson died peacefully on October 26, 2012, in the Palliative Care Unit of VGH, with music playing and his family comforting him. He leaves behind his wife and high school sweetheart, Marianne (Moore), their son Walter Scott (and wife Lynn), and his nephew Michael Nickson (and wife Julie and daughter Cate). He is also mourned by his family and friends in Ontario, Marianne's family, and the friends and colleagues who supported him through his illness.
Edward was the son of Walter and Catherine Gibson, of Tillsonburg, Ontario. He graduated with the Gold Medal in geography from the University of Western Ontario in 1959. After graduating, he spent three years in the Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment of Canada. He continued his study of geography receiving his MA from the University of Western Ontario in 1963 and his PhD from the University of British Columbia in 1970. He was a charter member of Simon Fraser University in 1965 where he served as Associate Professor of Geography, Associate of the School for Contemporary Arts and the School of Natural Resource Management, and director of the Simon Fraser and Teck Galleries. Under his direction, collectors from across Canada donated large canvases which were installed on the corridor walls of the university. Edward retired from the University in 1997.
For over thirty years, Edward participated in urban planning committees and heritage advisory boards in the province of British Columbia. He also applied his love of architecture in overseeing the restoration of residential and commercial buildings in Vancouver, Victoria and Tillsonburg.
Edward was passionate about design, art and architecture and this was reflected in his personal surroundings and gardens. He enjoyed listening to early music, collecting landscape and figurative paintings, reminiscing, displaying his son's mosaics, reading philosophy and following politics. Throughout his life he maintained the same qualities of intellect and respect for others with the courtesy that went with it.
The family would like to thank the doctors, staff and volunteers in the Palliative Care Unit at VGH for their care and attention.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, December 2, from 2 to 4 pm at the Carina Lounge, 1233 West Cordova Street, Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Edward's memory can be made to Simon Fraser University in support of the Edward and Marianne Gibson Endowment Fund.