2020

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of our Father Olev Rannaoja. Born April 18, 1948 in Sweden, passed away peacefully at his home in Surrey, BC on February 15th, 2020.

Predeceased by his parents, Konstantin and Vilma Rannaoja and his forever beloved wife Sharon (2009).

Olev is survived by his devoted children, Kimberley (Rob) of Kitchener, ON, Kendall (Carrie) of Naperville, IL and Kolin (Katherine) of Langley, BC. As well by his grandchildren, Evan, Charlotte, Hayden and Christopher. Olev is also survived by his sisters, Lea Byers of Oakville, ON and Urve Humphrey (Doug) of Surrey, BC., and many loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Olev will be sadly missed by his many dear friends, the Estonian community, and the RCMP, where he last served as a Staff Sergeant/Acting Inspector and retired after 30 years of service and went on to work for the Ministry of the Attorney General and Ministry of the Solicitor General in British Columbia.

The family suggests donations be made in his name to the Nicomekl Enhancement Society, where he was a volunteer and board member for many years.

Bob was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on November 27,1922 and Mom was born in Marpole (now part of Vancouver), BC, on February 2, 1922. Bob passed away peacefully at age 97 on April 10, 2020, and Joan a mere 37 hours later at age 98 on April 12, 2020. Lovingly survived and fondly remembered by children, Rob (Donna), Joanne (Greg), Andy (Yvonne), and Cathy, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bob's working career was in the Postal Service, he was an avid hunter and fisherman. Aside from being a homemaker, Joan taught preschool at the North Van Rec Centre for many years. They traveled the world but loved family gatherings just as much. Our parents passed away just shy of their 75th wedding anniversary. Special thanks to the wonderful care they received in the last years of their lives at Berkley Care Centre in North Vancouver.

Hugh died peacefully in his West Vancouver home at the age of 90. Hugh Hamilton was a long time member of the West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society, joining in 1998 and acting president for 8 years. He contributed countless hours working to create a better world for salmon and stream habitat.

Several creeks and tributaries might not have received the attention needed had it not been for Hugh and the other participating Streamkeepers. Hugh was instrumental in introducing the fish ladder at Marine Drive, the BC Rail culvert which has fish friendly baffles plus new baffles on lower Rodgers Creek at Bellevue Avenue.

One of Hugh's great gifts was his ability to communicate effectively with young and old. He organized storm drain marking events with students who painted the "yellow fish" on over 1,200 storm drains. He helped initiate a program at WV Sr Secondary an annual count of salmon spawners which provides Fisheries and Oceans with important data on local salmon stocks. He led the monthly shoreline cleanup in West Vancouver, helped establish Adopt-A-Fish, Community Days to showcase the work of Streamkeepers and the annual Coho Festival with other stewardship organizations.

We remember Hugh Hamilton as enthusiastic, knowledgeable, a great teacher, always willing to help, a good recruiter of volunteers, a grety initiator, inclusive and a wonderful communicator. But above all, Hugh was always positive - about people, the resilience of nature and the belief that we have the ability to makes things better.

He was Band Manager for T'Sou-ke First Nation for a number of years, an Alternative CRD Director, also helped build Charters Creek Interpretation Centre

Working with Elida and Ray and a lot of volunteers to build the building and grounds and manage the tanks, hatchery on a small scale. Wally loved sharing this with the many field trips for children and general public. He worked with BC Hydro in allowing water to be released and raised water levels in Creek for salmon fry until rains came.

Millard/Piercy Watershed Stewards lost one of our active stewards, Ron Watkins, in late December 2020. Ron with his wife, Nancy, moved to the Comox Valley in 2015 where he very soon volunteered with a number of local organizations, including the Millard/Piercy Watershed Stewards.

Ron was a very enthusiastic member of our group, always willing to lend a hand whenever the call for assistance went out. He loved pulling on his waders, rolling up his sleeves and getting into the streams to help set up smolt counting fences or counting fish. His friendly nature, sense of humour and infectious smile made him very popular with those who worked with him. Ron is greatly missed by other members of Millard/Piercy Watershed Stewards