We are saddened to inform the Profession that The Honourable David H. Vickers passed away at the age of 75 on November 14, 2009. He led an active life and was a husband, father, grandfather, lawyer, mediator and arbitrator, jurist, former Deputy Attorney General, community nurturer and activist, and gardener. The Honourable Mr. Vickers was a Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia from 1991 until he retired on January 9, 2009. Throughout his career both on the bench and in practice, he had a special empathy for society's less fortunate and was an advocate for the rights of the mentally disabled.

As a litigator, he advocated for the rights of persons with mental disabilities in a number of high-profile cases; establishing the rights of persons with mental disabilities to inclusion and self-determination. He was a strong believer in the strength of community and participated actively in the development of the Thetis Island Community Association and the establishment of the Thetis Island Community Fund to advance the education, health and well-being of residents of Thetis Island. Following his retirement from the Supreme Court earlier this year, he joined the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness and was a founding director of the ORCA Children's Advocacy Centre Society. It was his greatest disappointment that, as a result of illness, he could not continue to work towards the goals of those organizations to eliminate homelessness and to address holistically, in a child-friendly way, the social and justice implications for children and youth, and the connection between child abuse to homelessness and other tragic outcomes.

The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of The Honourable Mr. David Vickers.

A Celebration of Life in honour of the late Honourable David Vickers was held on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 4:00 pm at the St. Ann's Academy Auditorium, 835 Humboldt Street, Victoria.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:

The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness
941 Pandora Street
Victoria, BC V8V 3P4

The Thetis Island Community Fund
PO Box 12-14
Thetis Island, BC V0R 2Y0

Special Sitting of the Supreme Court of British Columbia -- December 16, 2009
A Special Sitting in honour of the late Honourable David Vickers will begin in Chambers at 9:30 am in Courtroom 401 of the Law Courts in Victoria.

Note: This Special Sitting will be available by video link in Courtroom 20 at the Vancouver Law Courts.

[posted November 24, 2009; updated December 15, 2009]