A Life Well Lived
It is with broken hearts we announce that Nils died on April 7, 2019, surrounded by his family and friends. Nils is survived by his loving wife, Jean and sons, Nicholas (Helen) and Stewart. Nils died as he lived, with dignity, strength, humour and by making new connections with everyone around him until the end.
Nils was born in Denmark on July 26, 1949. His family emigrated to Canada in 1957, living in Montreal then Ottawa. Nils received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Ottawa, and then a law degree from Osgoode Hall, Toronto. He moved to Vancouver in 1975, where he met his Scottish lass, Jean. In Vancouver and later Nelson, Nils worked as a Crown Prosecutor before he and Jean moved to London, England where Nils received a Master of Law degree from the London School of Economics. Upon returning to Canada, Nils taught law at Carleton University in Ottawa and then worked again as a Crown Prosecutor and defence lawyer throughout the Ottawa Valley. Their two sons were born in Ottawa.
In 1995, Nils, Jean, Nicholas, and Stewart moved to Oak Bay, where he would live for the rest of his life. In Victoria, Nils continued to practice as a Crown Prosecutor and to teach law part-time at UVic. In 1996, Nils was elected as a councillor to Oak Bay Municipal Council. He served 15 years as a Councillor before becoming the Mayor of Oak Bay in 2011, a position he held with great pride until 2018. Nils also served the broader community by acting as the Chair of the CRD, and as Chair of the Water Board for 12 years, during which time he helped preserve water security for the region.
Nils will be remembered as a “people person” who truly cared about those around him. He was a consummate volunteer as a coach for his children’s scouting and sporting activities, and for community events throughout the region. Nils was also a community leader who dedicated his time to improving the world around him.
A heartfelt thank you to the doctors and nursing staff at the BC Cancer Agency and the Royal Jubilee Hospital for their gentle care, especially Drs. Vergidis, Brown, and Maskey, and to Dr. Paton of the Eye Care Centre, Vancouver.
A Memorial Service for Nils will be held at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, 2121 Cadboro Bay Road at 2 PM on Thursday, April 11, 2019.
Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Mayors’ Art Legacy Fund. Donations can be sent to Oak Bay Municipal Hall, 2167 Oak Bay Avenue, contact Warren Jones (250-598-3311) or visit www.oakbay.ca for additional details.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
26 Responses
On behalf of the Danish Social Club of Victoria we send our condolences and prayers to Nils family Aere vaere hans minde.On a personal level it wa apleasure to work with Nils the prosecutor and myself as Deputy sheriff.We shared moments in our birth languae Danish having both come to Canada in 1957’Nils gave a great speech to the Danish Federation conference 2013 Victoria What it means to be Danish and what Hyggelig is all about.I shall miss our bantering back and forth at our Danish Club events.Hans
I am so very sorry for your loss, and for the community’s loss. I worked with Nils at the Crown Prosecutors office, he was one of the lawyers on my team, and he truly was the nicest man. He was always smiling and always willing to chat. He loved his family dearly and he loved life. He was a passionate, compassionate and caring person and he will be greatly missed.
Nils, was A special person I was fortunate to meet and share moments and ideas with over the last years. He was always generous with his time returning phonecalls and emails quickly,support for a person who enters politics and fills their role as he did with a view of it to be a service for their community seems lacking in many who ask for our vote and support. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to support someone like him ,the “happy warrior”, who truly knew how to listen. His thoughtfulness of the needs we meet locally and how we do it matter and have impact s beyond our geographical locality.Always fun to have a conversation with I will miss those exchanges. Michelle Coburn
My heartfelt sympathies to Nils wife Jean and his two sons and daughter in law. I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Nils at the CRD for a number of years. The thing I most admired about Nils was you always knew where he stood on issues, he wasn’t afraid to take a position and speak his mind, even in the face of heated opposition. He was always respectful in debate at the CRD table and had such a happy demeanour. In my capacity as Parade Marshall in Sidney, he was so keen to ride his bike in the Canada Day parade. That was Nils! No fancy airs. Nils was a true gentleman who gave so much to Oak Bay and the Capital Region. I am so saddened by his passing.
My condolences to the family and especially to Jean in the loss of a lovely, caring, intelligent man. Fond memories of our times at Carleton U in Ottawa where Nils was my law prof, residence advisor and a very insightful guide. Please accept my sympathies.
As a police officer, I had the fortunate opportunity to meet Nils over 25 years ago when he was a Crown Prosecutor in Victoria. Over the years, he was assigned to quite a number of our serious cases and I was in awe of his meticulous planning, preparation, and presentation at trial. His quick wit and constant enthusiasm was a joy to be around. He was one of the very best and will be missed, but his example of selfless public service will live on. I am proud to have been able to call him a friend.
My sincere condolences to Jean, Nicholas and Stewart.
Dave Hodgson
Sidney North Saanich RCMP (retired)
Please accept my deepest condolences for your family’s loss. I am saddened to say good-bye to this exceptional Hillcrest Hawk.
Nils was a good man and a great leader of his community. He was honorable and kind and knew how to accomplish social progress within a flawed system. He was an inspiration. Sno’uyutth!
I attended high school with Nils 50 years ago in Ottawa. Although we weren’t close friends, we were in many classes together and I had a chance to take measure of his many fine qualities.
Nils was exceptionally intelligent – having learned to speak fluent English without a trace of an accent in only a couple of years. He was a top student. Although Nils was one of the smallest players on our high school’s basketball team, opposing players soon learned that he was a fierce competitor and not be taken for granted in physical confrontations. He had a wicked sense of humour.
Nils’ family have my deep sympathy on the loss of an exceptional husband and father, who contributed much to the communities in which he lived.
Bob Publicover, Waterloo Ontario
Nils played for us on some great Hillcrest Hawks basketball teams here in Ottawa in the 60’s.
When he returned to Ottawa to teach law we had some spirited games of squash in the Carleton Ravens nest.
The lure of elected office was always there as he was talking and running for office early on.
He embodied what was best in an elected official which was to serve honourably and practically while upholding fundamental
principals of fairness and justice.
Qualities that todays cut and thrust make difficult.Nils was always there and although we had lost touch in recent years I knew from friends that those core Canadian values were always there.
He will be missed on all Courts. Farewell to a great Canadian!