Roger Thomas Reid

5 November 1946 to 25 February 2011

Sadly, we announce the passing of our dear friend, Roger Reid in Victoria, BC. He died quietly at home, in the evening hours of February 25th. Roger was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, the son of Robert W. Reid and Hattie M. (nee Hunter) Reid and the brother of Carol and Bobbie Reid. He spent the first 35 years of his life in Ontario, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from McMaster University in 1970; a Master’s Degree from Queen’s University in 1972 and a PhD in economics from Queen’s in 1975. During his academic career, he taught at Brock, Laurentian and Trent Universities. He was at Trent for 5 years where, he was, among others, Don of the Lady Eaton College from 1976 to 1980. Roger moved to Victoria in 1981 to join the BC Civil Service as an economist with the Planning and Assessment Branch of the Ministry of Environment. In 1988, he joined the Wildlife Branch as the sole economist for the Wildlife Program in the Province of British Columbia where he remained until his retirement in 2003. During his time in the BC government, Roger was instrumental in initiating several important socio-economic surveys of wildlife users, including: resident and non-resident hunters and the value of hunting, wildlife viewing and commercial uses to the Province. This information was important for the pricing of licences and for cost-benefit analysis of the wildlife resource versus other proposed uses (e.g. mining, forestry and hydro). He provided considerable support to Ministerial regional offices doing impact analysis on the wildlife resource of proposed resource developments. Roger was always ready with extensive data to argue the high value of wildlife versus other uses of the habitat. During the last few years of his career, he acted as coordinator of the wildlife viewing program. Roger was well-known for his quiet, shy personality that was punctuated by a cutting wit, best expressed in dry one-liners. Officially, he was Doctor Reid (owing to his PhD), but he rarely used the title, typical of his simple, unpretentious approach to life. He enjoyed friends of all ages and he especially appreciated children, many of whom have continued their friendship with him over decades. He loved BC’s wildlife; his house cats; poker nights; and his beer. He was an avid hockey fan, especially of the Chicago Blackhawks, and he played at the recreational level for much of his lifetime, including in an oldtimers’ league at the Panorama Rec Centre in North Saanich. After this was no longer possible, he pursued his interest with enthusiasm through local hockey pools, in which he invariably did well. As a professional economist, he had a sharp, analytical mind and he prided himself on his ability to write simply and clearly. Roger left no close, surviving relatives. He was a bachelor all his life, notwithstanding several female friends who appreciated his kind, gentle nature. He will be remembered with great warmth and a smile by his many long-standing friends from his work place, poker mates, and old friends from his days in graduate school.

A Celebration of Roger’s Life is planned for 1:00 pm Saturday, March 19th at the University of Victoria Interfaith Chapel, Parking Lot #6, off Ring Road. Contact Lloyd Kenward (250-477-0967) or Heather Millen (250-216-5414) for details. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the BC Lung Association via http://www.bc.lung.ca/donate/memorial-gifts.html or BC Lung Association, 2675 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2K2.