Brian died on Dec. 1, 2015 at Victoria Hospice not far from where he was born in 1942 to Robert T. and Norah Wallace.  Brian loved his life.

His wife Marilyn and his daughters, Erin and her husband, Greg Sullivan and children, Wallace and Duff and Anna and her husband, Mark Colavecchia and children, Enzo and Remy, formed his cornerstone.  He was devoted to his family and so proud of each of their accomplishments.  He was always respectful, giving thoughtful advice only when asked. His absence is already deeply felt but he has left so many great shared memories and 3 strong women. His sister, Barbara Craigie, (husband Ross Craigie and sons Ian and Keir) was his treasured lifelong friend. Ian and Brian travelled many miles together on their BMW motorcycles (see http://longwayshome.net/). Ian always got Brian home and almost always in one piece.

Brian started at Margaret Jenkins School, was a member of the Fairfield Cub Scout Troop and a member of the YMCA Swim Team.  He kept close friends from each, all of his life.

He graduated from UBC Law School in 1968 and practiced in Victoria before joining the Foreign Service as a Trade Commissioner. After 2 years in Mexico City, he moved to Ottawa to work in the Dep’t of Justice in Tax Litigation.  From there he joined the Vancouver law firm, then Lawson, Lundell where, as Senior Litigator, he had a wide and varied practice for 32 years.  At the same time he spent countless hours volunteering as a Bencher with the Law Society of B.C.  He remained on the Society’s Disciplinary Panel until just months before he died.

In 2007, Brian joined Angela Westmacott and Deborah Lovett in Victoria working in Public Law and sitting as an Arbitrator.  This was a happy and rewarding alliance that brought him great personal and professional satisfaction.

There were many other highlights in Brian’s career such as serving as Senior Legal Counsel on the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of the Fraser River Sockeye Salmon. But what was always apparent throughout his years practicing law was the pleasure he received from working with and mentoring young lawyers.  “Brian was the most influential person in my career. His moral compass pointed straight and true. He taught us that honesty and integrity were the best guides through grey areas.”  Peter Feldberg.

Brian had a deep and sincere enthusiasm for life and for the people around him. He took great joy in his countless friendships, both old and new. He had a love for art, music, food and architecture.  And particularly enjoyed sharing these passions with the people in his life.

Thank you Dr. Susan Edwards, Dr. J.P. McGhie and Dr. Isabelle Vallières and everyone at Victoria Hospice.

“Over the past weeks (and really for our entire lives), our family has been on the receiving end of so much love, kindness, generosity and compassion.  People have truly given us the very best of themselves.  And we are so, so grateful.”  Erin, Anna and Marilyn

A Celebration of Life will be held at Shaughnessy Golf Club at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 22nd, 2016. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Victoria Hospice or the Access Pro Bono Society of B.C.  Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall’s Funeral Home

www.mccallbros.com.

  • Rodney Ward Q.C.

    Dear Marilyn

    Brian was a good friend to me in law school and beyond. We roomed together for one summer in Place Vanier, UBC where he and I were both Dons and could jointly afford the cheap summer rent of the Don’s suite. He was an usher at my wedding and used to have fun as he attended the parties given by Aunt Joan Wallace and would say “I’m from the ‘poor’ Wallaces” I knew his father and always admired his joy in ‘the experience of life’. but in the things that really matter he had great riches. I learned of his death now in June, 2016 and am sorry to have missed his memorial.

  • Roger Elmes

    i remember Brian very well and have fond memories of our time together in the University Naval Training Division (UNTD). He was a student at UVic and then UBC while I was at McMaster. In the summer of 1961 we met in HMCS CORNWALLIS in Nova Scotia where about 300 students from universities across Canada were stationed for 4 months in their first year and 4 months in their second year. Brian was an active light among some duller ones, an excellent swimmer, and pretty sharp in his uniform. His willingness to engage in discussions, and some pranks, made him an interesting mate. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
    Roger Elmes
    President
    UNTD Association of Canada

  • Yolanda Blommers

    Dearest Marilyn, Erin and Anna (and families).

    Please accept my sincerest condolences with the passing of Brian. So many fond memories throughout the years. It was an honour to have known him!

    Love from YO.

  • Heather Bennett

    Dear Family:

    I was a paralegal at Lawson Lundell LLP and had the good fortune to work with Brian for a number of years and, in fact, he hired me in 1987 when he was the head of the Litigation Department. He was a brilliant lawyer and a true gentleman and I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity of knowing him.

    Best wishes.

    Heather Bennett

  • Michael Lund

    Hello Marilyn and family. I received this sad news as I wait in RJH to see what options there are for my heart. My memories are from the younger Shawnigan Lake days, when close family gatherings were more common. I always found Brian to be totally open and accepting. With any luck, in the new year we might get together.

    Mike Lund

  • Ann Maffey

    Dear Marilyn Murray and I were very sad to learn of Brian’s illness and Death. We did not k now him well but do have happy remembrances of occasions we did share either in your home on Brighton or here on San Fernando,

    You are all in our thoughts and prayers at this time and hope that memories will help to ease the pain of Brian’s passing.

    Blessings
    Ann and Mujrray

  • Alice Chan

    I had the pleasure of meeting this extraordinary man later in my life through his dear daughter Anna. In our few meetings I was drawn to his dignity, honorability and skill at being a father, husband, and valuable human in this world. I was so deeply saddened to hear of his struggle and loss in life. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten as he holds a special place in many hearts. We will all miss you Brian.

  • Dennis Yardley

    Erin, Anna and Marilyn Wallace:

    I am probably not a very familiar name to you, but back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, Brian was one of my best friends.

    I too was a member of the “Fairfield Cub/Scout Troup”, so that would put my first introduction to Brian at around 1951 or 1952. The time that we became really good friends was when we started attending Vic High from 1957 to 1960. There we played on the school rugby teams together and just generally hung out and socialized.

    During the summer of 1959 I worked on a Cattle Ranch in the Merritt area, which paid $125 per month. As the ranch was a ways out of town, I was able to save every penny that I earned. Upon my return to Victoria for our last year of high school I purchased a 1941 De Soto two door coupe for $225. A couple of months later, I tore the ligaments in my ankle while we were playing rugby, As the De Soto had a clutch, I couldn’t drive it until I got better. I tossed Brian the keys and he became my personal driver for the next month or so. We also worked together that winter in the shoe department at Eaton’s. We worked Friday nights till 9:00 and all day Saturday. For these efforts we received a little pay envelope each week with $12.30 in it. This barely covered the gas for the De Soto.

    After high school in 1960, my family moved to Vancouver. I started attending UBC, while Brian spent 2 years at Victoria College (University), before transferring to UBC to pursue his Law Degree. In 1962 Brian and I became Fraternity Brothers when we joined Psi Upsilon Fraternity, along with a few other Victorians’.

    In 1965 I was married while heading into my final year at UBC and Brian was my best man.

    We didn’t see a lot of each other in the ensuing years, but whenever we did get together it was always enjoyable as we caught up on each other’s news,

    Erin, we met a couple of times when you first moved to Langley and got involved in horses. Silke and I owned High Country Horseshoes back then.

    My most recent visits with Brian were at some of our High School reunions (50 year and 55 year) and on one of his Motor Cycle excursions through the interior where he stopped to visit us at our home in Armstrong.

    I always considered Brian to be one of my two best friends from our school days and I will truly miss him,

    As somebody said on one of the many pack horse trips that I have taken in the mountains, when heading down a trail, somebody has to go first to find the way, and the rest of us will follow. Brian has just gone on ahead.

    Dennis Yardley

  • Michael Bain

    Marilyn, Erin, Anna, grandkids and extended family members,

    Brian was a lovely man who I will always hold in high regard. I worked with him for seven years at Lawson Lundell and then happily bumped into him over the roughly 10 years since then. We would have the occasional beer or lunch or dinner. He was such a fascinating and interesting man. He was the kind of lawyer most of us want to be like, and he was the kind of man most of us want to be.

    Of course, I had the pleasure of performing with Brian in Mr. Fancy Education (where he performed songs by Pulp and The Pursuit of Happiness with us). One of my favourite interactions with Brian was shortly after my son had been born (about 15 years ago). Brian asked me how I was enjoying being a dad. I told him how much I loved it and how every stage in my young son’s development was so amazing. “It IS amazing, isn’t it?” he said, “I just got back from having lunch with my daughter. Even when they’re adults it gets more amazing every year!” Brian regularly boasted to me about his family. It was wonderful hearing him talk about you.

    When I told my son (who met Brian a few times) that Brian had passed away he said: “I’m sorry to hear that, Dad. Why don’t you go home and pour yourself a cup of tea in your Brian Wallace mug?” I had made mugs commemorating Brian’s performance of “Common People.” You’d be surprised how many people have asked me for one of those mugs! Brian accompanies me at breakfast on most mornings.

    I am deeply sorry for your loss. Brian will be missed by the many people he helped or inspired both inside and outside of the legal profession.

    What a fine gentleman he was.

    Michael Bain

  • Annie Baric

    The Directors and Staff at Access Pro Bono were deeply saddened by the news of Brian’s passing. He was a long time supporter of access to justice and we greatly appreciated his support over the years. Our heart felt condolences go out to Brian’s family.

  • Suzanne Hepting

    Dear Marilyn and family…I knew Brian when he was a little boy and thru our teen years. My brother Bill McElmoyle went thru school and Cubs with Brian .. our Mothers ‘ taking turns driving. Happy memories.
    We had a vacant lot across the street from our family home on Rockland. We named it Eagle Park. Brian and other pals would ride their bikes up the hill and we many hours of serious baseball. We had so much fun.
    My most sincere sympathy to you all. Sincerely Suzanne Hepting {McElmoyle}

  • Brenda Clarke

    Marilyn, I have not seen you or Anna for many years….and so I remember you from our Canterbury days in Southlands, as we were then. It was, therefore, a shock to read Brian’s obituary in the Vancouver “Sun” recently, because, after all, we are so young! But of course we are not so young any more and those days were a long time ago. I am so sorry to learn of Brian’s death and send my sincere condolences to you and your family.

    Brenda Clarke

  • Katie Drysdale

    Marilyn, so sorry to hear about Brian. I will be at Shaughnessy on January 22nd to see you, Erin & Anna. I am at Tapestry at UBC Campus. Love Katie Drysdale

  • Michiel Horn

    My brother Steven forwarded the death notice in the T-C. I’m sorry to get the sad news. Brian and I overlapped at Victoria College and took a couple of courses in Spanish together. I saw him only a couple of times after we both left Victoria, but I enjoy my memories of him. May he rest in peace. My heartfelt condolences to his family and especially to his sister Barbara, a Vic High classmate of mine. Sursum corda!

    Michiel (Mike) Horn

  • Philip Seeto

    My thoughts and prayers are with Brian’s family. Even having worked alongside him for only a short time, I was able to see his passion for life and his caring nature. God bless.

  • Steven A. Horn

    I had not seen Brian in many years but remember him fondly. He will be missed. My deepest condolences go out to the members of his family who supported him.

  • Gerry Keane

    I was deeply saddened to hear of Brian’s passing. He was my next door neighbor in Vancouver where he also served on our building’s Board of Directors. I know that I speak for my other neighbours when I say he will be very much missed here.

    Despite what I am sure was a hectic schedule, Brian always seemed to find time for people. I found it refreshing at how vibrant and excited by life Brian was and often enjoyed tales of his most recent motorcycle road trip.

    My heartfelt condolences go to his family. I hope that time finds a way to ease the pain of your grief.

  • Isabelle Vallieres

    Dear Marilyn and family,
    How sad I am this morning, finding out that Brian passed away. He was such a strong man and so inspiring! His appetite for life was moving.
    Today, my deepest sympathy and thoughts are for you, having to accept the loss.
    I am still there for you if you need anything. Don’t hesitate to contact me.
    Take good care of you, sincerely, Isabelle xx

  • Roz Walls

    THinking of you all in this very tough time, He was one of a kind, a very special and fine man who I feel honoured to have known and shared some very good times with. Many memories of good times and laughter with Brian and Marilyn on Florence and Ted’s deck, art openings in Vancouver and dinners in Vancouver. Brian was such a generous spirit and gave so much of himself as do you Marilyn. Know I will be holding you in my thoughts Roz Walls

  • Courtney Trevis

    My condolences to Brian’s family. I very much enjoyed working with him over the past few years. He was such a calming presence and always had the right things to say. I will remember him fondly.

  • Wilf and Ginny Lund

    Brian was a fine man and friend. His was a life well lived and he made a difference. We know nothing can fill the emptiness you feel. As family we mourn with you and pray that past memories will be seeds of joy in your hearts that will grow to sustain you.
    Love and blessings,
    Wilf and Ginny

  • Bob Dittmeier

    Please let me offer my family’s most heartfelt sympathies to the Wallace & Craigie families. I’m so sorry that I never had the opportunity to meet Brian and enjoy his company while on the ride through Asia & China. Rest in peace Brian

  • Kevin Beretta

    Dear family,

    It was with great sadness that I heard of Brian’s passing just recently. Brian had been a regular fixture to our intimate group of BMW “airhead” riders for a number of years. Camaraderie from all walks of life intermingled to enjoy a good meal every month or so, catching up on life and goings on. Although devotees of some impractical and outdated piece of motorcycle technology was our initial excuse for gathering, over the years a strong but low-key friendship had developed between the unlikeliest of characters. Brian was a very well liked member of our group and when in attendance, we would get his latest musings on whether the salmon where really ours or not as they swam into US waters. Much laughter always ensued. In 2012, Brian guided me through a number of options in preparing for a motorcycle trip that included Mexico. His information about Mexico was invaluable and so very much appreciated. I sadly saw Brian only a few times since my return from my trip in 2014 and it is certainly a loss felt deeply. I consider myself lucky to be able to call him a friend.

    Kevin Beretta

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