Brian was born in Canada’s Prairie province of Saskatchewan, in Shaunavon, to Father Frederick and Mother Mary. He had one sibling, his younger brother Hugh.  All of these folks have passed, but he maintained enthusiastic contact with his current extended family of cousins, nephews and nieces.  Brian spent a lot of summers with family in Saskatchewan. In 1958, Brian moved to family on the Sinclair ranch and lived for a year, teaching at the Bench Colony. He rode a horse to get back and forth!

He completed his B.Ed. at the U. of Alberta in 1965.  Brian returned to Saskatchewan in 1969.  From there he taught throughout the Prairies in small towns and expanded his network of “family” with students, some of whom remained for many years in friendly communication with a teacher they much valued.  In 1978, he left the Prairies and made his way to Vancouver.

Brian was a man of intellectual curiosity, eager to learn more and more about this world of ours, both present and historic.  One could find oneself caught up in spirited conversations with him!  One passion was his Scottish family history. He was keen enough to take up learning Scottish Gaelic – for some of us the language of his dependable Happy Birthday greetings.

He joined many of us in B.C., briefly as a teacher, and then on staff with Eaton’s - quite a switch, but still a suitable environment for a warm and engaging person.

He was a lifelong Anglican Christian who took his faith very seriously, though thoughtfully as he explored a wide range of theological thinking.  He was committed to feeding the poor in a meal program at the last parish he joined, Christ Church Cathedral and took active part in intense and challenging inter-parish conversations around this diocese concerning the place for and respect of the LGBT members of the Church.

Brian was a keen British monarchist – just try to tease him about that!  But for all that and his Scottish heritage, the deep truth in his heart was that for him Home was Canada’s Prairies.  We family and friends have met his request that at the end of his life, he would go home to the Prairies, where he will join his parents and brother now.