THE ADVOCATE 85
VOL. 79 PART 1 JANUARY 2021
NOS DISPARUS
By R.C. Tino Bella
Donald Andrew Giddings
Donald Andrew Giddings (“Donald”, “Don” or
“Donny”, depending on how well or long you had
known him) was born and raised in Smithers. He was
the youngest of four boys and is survived by his wife
Alison, his children Victoria, Rachel and Jonathan,
his mother Dawn, his brothers Kenneth (Marcia) and
David (Connie), and his sister-in-law Nancy.
Don graduated high school in Smithers in 1983, and like many young
men lacking means, opportunity or direction, he worked a succession of
odd jobs. After a brief stint as a jade miner, he enrolled in and completed a
diploma program at BCIT. It wasn’t until then that he found confidence in
his intellectual abilities and decided to pursue further post-secondary education,
enrolling first at Cariboo College (now Thompson Rivers University).
He was able to do well enough academically to subsequently transfer
to UBC, where he earned a degree in commerce. During this time, Don met
Alison, who had relocated to Smithers from England in 1991 to begin her
nursing career. They were married in 1993.
After Don completed his degree at UBC, his older brother Al fell ill, and
Don stepped in to manage Al’s auto body shop back in Smithers, which he
did until after Al passed away in 1993. It was during this time that Don
decided that he wanted to go to law school and began to study for the LSAT.
He was accepted to Osgoode Hall, where he ultimately obtained his law
degree in 1998.
Don returned to British Columbia after obtaining his law degree, but now
with two young daughters in tow: Victoria, who was born in 1995, and
Rachel, who was born in 1997 while Don was at Osgoode Hall. He secured
articles at Wilson King in Prince George and was called to the bar in 1999.