It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved friend and mentor, taken from us too soon by failing health and a heart attack. A man of many talents, with an extraordinary breadth and depth of interests, he was kind, gentle and curious about things most kids and many adults weren’t even aware of. This curiosity continued throughout his life, leading him to explore theatre, languages, cooking, genealogy, screenwriting, chess, history, poetry, music genres, playing classical Spanish guitar, and the banjo in the old timey music tradition, the law and politics. His career was as diverse as his personal life, having practised law, worked in politics for the BC Social Credit Party and the Federal Conservative Party, and conducted memorable Canadian Citizenship ceremonies as a Citizenship Court Judge – explaining so well the essence of what it was to be Canadian. George was a respected Public Member of the Board of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses, and most recently was a Member and the Vice-Chair of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He co-hosted “The Magic Carpet” with Howie Siegel, a radio show in Victoria. Aside from his accomplishments, George was unique in his kind heartedness. The saying, “he didn’t have a mean bone in his body” could have been written of him. Because of this, and because of his voluminous knowledge of many topics, George had a lot of friends from very different backgrounds. He was a true renaissance man, an eccentric character in the best of ways, and a loyal and true friend. He will be so very greatly missed by those of us who knew and loved him. “He was the microcosm of man, of a human being. He had everything.”
Predeceased by parents, Joseph Paul Alphonse Gibault and Muriel Thoms, and brother Joseph Gibault. He leaves behind niece, Nicole Lake, and all his beloved friends.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life for George with a reception to follow, will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, August 26, 2016 at McCall’s new location, McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive in Victoria.
In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s memory would be appreciated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C., #106 – 1001 Cloverdale Avenue, Victoria, BC, V8X 4C9.
Condolences may be offered to the friends and family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
29 Responses
I was deeply saddened to learn of George’s passing, but thrilled and encouraged to read the farewell letters of his friends who understood and appreciated his true essence. See you soon, dear friend.
Sincerely, Bill Miller
I knew George through mutual friends…. I remember being introduced and noticed that said friends exchanged glances as if to say “Well, this should be interesting…”. Several times we met and off he’d go. Middle European dynastic politics, Scottish clan histories, the perils of the Left and I would sharpen my view and enjoy George’s formidable intellect. Once during a ferociously funny interview on his radio show wherein we covered the establishment of the 5th century western Scottish kingdom of Dalriada, the Glamis Monster who lived secretly in HM the Queen’s ancestral castle a few centuries back, and so on and so on I remember thinking “Is anybody actually tuned in and listening to this?” And then I thought, “Who cares? This is great fun!” And that was George. He was great and he was fun.
I was sorry to learn of George’s passing. George was a true original. No-one that I have known has been consumed by such a range of preoccupations, or had the way of thinking about things or expressing ideas about things, that George had. Whether the subject was the linguistic family mapping of central European Slavic languages, Gaelic poetry, the bloody assizes during the Glorious Revolution, or regional variations of bluegrass music (all subjects upon which I can specifically recall George holding forth), he always knew his subject, had formed strong opinions, and was a brilliant raconteur. I only wish I had attended one of his citizenship ceremonies to hear his elaboration of the meaning of Canadian citizenship. I know it would have been substantial and intelligent, with no hint of maudlin sentimentality. And, as I say, it would have been original.
For all his intelligence, though, my fondest memories of George are graced not by his great intelligence, but his kind and gentle nature. Sincere condolences to his dearest friends and to his niece.
I will miss his fine mind and political insights. It was at his very best though, when we invited him to a Robbie Burns dinner we put on. Everyone dressed for the part, including George, but only George could regal us with the clan history of everyone at the table! What didn’t he know… We will all miss the Judge.
– Patrick Hunt
George was one of best. I started working with him in 1985. He was smart, thorough, and insightful He also did not take care of himself. Still a highlight of my life will always be the lunch with him when he was sworn in as a citizenship judge, Mike Donison, Jim MacEachern and I. His passing causes great sorrow. It reminds me to strive ever harder to achieve our shared goals.
– Owen Lippert
I was very sad to hear the news Bruce. George was one-of-a-kind. A brilliant man who often went under appreciated by many who under estimated his skills and intelligence. I recall one story about George a few years ago while visiting Victoria. I called him up to go for dinner and when I calmly asked where we should go he immediately sprang to life and roared – PEKING DUCK! I think he dragged me to Fan Tans for some fine Chinese food and an amazing discussion that ranged from Gaul European genealogy to Goldwater/Reagan political nuances and obscure Social Credit politics. George could speak to anyone on virtually anything. I also recall George showing up at Tory softball game MANY years ago. He showed up with wearing a Nixon tee shirt, an I LIKE IKE hat, carrying a stuffed armadillo under his arm! Only George could pull that off! Rest in peace my friend and God bless.
– Colin Metcalfe
I knew George from his time as a Citizenship Judge, & he was brilliant! Knowing his steel-trap researcher’s mind, one might have thought he would be too academic in his speeches at Citizenship ceremonies…..but such was not the case with George. His passion for our Country, and his humour, always came across …..as did his unbounded pride in each & every “New Canadian” he swore in! He even “forgave” me for being a Liberal (because I volunteered for the Institute for Canadian Citizenship)!!…….He will be sorely missed.
– Chris Colman
Wow, this is terrible news. George was a legend. When I first heard his name, it was said that he had written the nomination speeches for ALL of the candidates in the 1986 Social Credit leadership convention. Given that there were 12 candidates, it was hard to believe – but once you met George, you realized that maybe it was possible! What a character. He had one of those encyclopedic minds – with knowledge and insight into everything from BC politics to ancestral histories to Canadian law – and he was the best damn banjo player I ever heard. He was also a great researcher and writer, and a mentor to many of us who participated in BC politics. I learned a lot from George. He was a great friend.
– Steve Vanagas
This is sad news. George was a brilliant man and a delightful person. I had the great privilege of working closely with him for a couple of years when I was in the Premier’s office. He shared considerable strategic insight, always offered with a well informed historical context, often recounted with numerous humorous anecdotes. He was a gentleman with many quirky habits that made one’s relationship with him that much more meaningful and interesting. I remember one day visiting his rather small office jammed with stacks of books, on my mission to get from him a policy paper he had promised to write for the Premier some weeks earlier. George assured me the task had been accomplished and the paper was somewhere to be found among many other papers, files and books piled about two feet high on his desk. He started rummaging through the stacks while telling me the story of some unrelated event in BC’s political history. He was flinging papers here and there and suddenly stopped when he came across a flattened package wrapped with wax paper that had been jammed in the pile. He slowly unwrapped it. “Well, I wondered where that cheese sandwich had gone last week. I was terribly hungry after giving up searching for it.” I particularly enjoyed George’s history lessons about Social Credit– especially the federal party, and his stories of Real Caouette, full of great quotes and dramatic emphasis. George dedicated his life to the country and its democracy that he so loved. He made many friends who will miss him. I count myself among them.
– Bob Ransford
Fellow Young Socreds and Socreds out there.. Sad news received from long time friend Bruce Hallsor. George Gibault another well known member of the Socred family sadly passed away. George if you didn’t know him, you saw his work as he was head of BC Social Credit Caucus Research during the early 1980s. If ridings wanted to know policy positions, they could contact George and his great staff (a few of whom moved up to being E.A’s in Ministries and the Premier’s Office). “Government News” and the earlier “Government Report” were sent out to Party members and MLA offices to keep them informed about activities within our BC Social Credit government and policies.George was at many Socred Conventions. Met George many times during my adventures within the Party. Sadly missed. RIP George.
– Paul Allen Keenleyside