Obituary of Gordon Miller

Gord passed away peacefully in his 95^th year after a lengthy decline, and in the presence of his beloved wife, Joan. Predeceased by his parents, Ruth and George, he was the devoted father of Andrew (Donna) and Susan (Fred Schmidt), brother of Roy (Beth) and Brenda (Terry Yates), grandfather of April Freeman and Curtis Miller, and Erika and Kristina Schmidt, great grandfather of Leah and Hailey, Calvin and Dawson.

 

Gord was born in Vancouver, BC, and since his father worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway, he, his sister and brother grew up in several places across the country: Lethbridge and Drumheller, AB, as well as Grand Forks and Revelstoke, BC. During the war years the family lived in Montreal, and Gord's high school years were spent in Toronto. He told stories of the childhood shenanigans that he and his friends got up to in all of those places.

 

Gord graduated in Forestry (BScF) from UNB in 1955 and Town and Regional Planning from U of T in 1958. In his early years, he was employed by the BC Forest Service as a topographical engineer. With his town planning studies completed, he joined the National Parks Branch working on development issues in the park townsites across Canada. He next worked for the City of Ottawa Planning Department followed by a transfer to the newly formed Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton as its first regional planner. There he worked with developers, citizen groups, and elected representatives, in planning for the rapidly growing region.

 

Always very active, Gord loved skating on the canal, hiking and snowshoeing in the Greenbelt, exercising at the local YMCA (a 50 year member), and square dancing with local clubs. Their farm in the Pakenham hills was his favourite place to unwind. Following retirement in 1988, he and Joan found great pleasure in traveling throughout North America in their RV, and relaxing with family and friends at their Sharbot Lake cottage.

 

Gord requested no funeral service. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Should you wish to make a memorial contribution, a donation to your favourite charity would be welcomed by those in need.

 

“Let's not lament the last loon to leave the lovely lake.” (G. Miller)

 

 

 

WHERE AM I?

 

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not here. I do not sleep.

 

I am at the Lake to the west,

Quite near that big loon's nest.

I am hiking on one of my shore-line trails,

Looking over the Lake at the many sails.

 

And when you hear the loon's plaintive call

Please picture me in your minds' recall.

Look for me in the morning light,

I am a gull in the circling flight.

 

And when a loon swims close to the dock,

Why – it's me – but don't be shocked!

I am just looking to see who's there

And what new projects are deemed most fair.

 

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not here, I did not die.

 

By Gord Miller, with excerpts from the poem

“Immortality” by Clare Harner.