Colin Jeffrey Godbold

Colin Jeffrey Godbold, 85, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, British Columbia, after a long battle with cancer and kidney disease. He leaves behind his wife, Evelyne Deschenes Godbold, his son, Sebastien, his two brothers, Raymond and his wife, Patricia, Maxwell and his wife, Wendy; brothers and sisters in law, and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind daughter, Maxine, and son, Alastair, from a previous marriage.

Colin was born in the east end of London, and as a child, experienced the London Blitz during WWII. One of his most cherished memories from that time was when he lived on his uncle’s farm near the town of Rochford, which was the inspiration for his lifelong passion for gardening. At an early age, Colin demonstrated a powerful aptitude as a writer and was a voracious reader.

In his youth, Colin joined the British Army where he served as a military police officer while competing as a championship boxer. Soon after leaving the Army, he applied his natural writing abilities to become a newspaper editor while attending London University in the evenings, to earn a degree in English literature.

In 1960, Colin moved to Canada where he worked for two daily newspapers, The Brandon Sun and The Winnipeg Tribune. While in Winnipeg, he began his radio and television journalism career with the CBC. Later, he opened the first CBC bureau in Calgary, Alberta. In 1968, he was appointed by the CBC in Toronto to cover the Paris riots. Later, he was assigned as a foreign correspondent to Washington, DC where he extensively covered the Watergate scandal. He regularly travelled to New York to cover the United Nations General Assembly, reporting on China/ USA diplomatic and trade relations, as well as the Middle East peace talks.

After his time in Washington, Colin returned to Toronto and was appointed Managing Editor of CBC’s National Radio News Service. He discovered yoga as a way to improve his health, and it became a passion for him. Colin always claimed that yoga had saved him from the stress of many difficulties in his career and personal life. Colin met his wife, Evelyne, in Toronto in 1977 where they were married and had a son, Sebastien. The family moved to Montreal in 1980 and then to Ottawa in 1983. While in those cities, he worked as news supervisor for Radio Canada International. He continued with practicing yoga as well as becoming an avid runner and cultivating a garden at his Ottawa home.

In the late 1980’s, Colin retired from the CBC, and became a journalism professor at St. Paul University in Ottawa. He was immensely valued by his students and he received glowing reviews. In 1994, Colin and his family moved to Salt Spring Island, B.C., after driving across Canada, looking for adventure and a new place to live. In 1997, he moved again, this time to Victoria, where the family finally settled. Throughout his life, Colin also enjoyed traveling, photography, listening to classical music (opera), gardening, painting and watching movies and detective shows.

A private gathering will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com