THE ADVOCATE 439
VOL. 80 PART 3 MAY 2022
In addition to Legally Speaking, Gerry was a contributor to The Scrivener
(BC Notaries Association), the Victoria Real Estate Board’s monthly publication,
courses for the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, and conferences
offered by BCREA.
In August 1985, the British Columbia real estate industry, in cooperation
with the Ministry of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, achieved legislation
that established the Real Estate Foundation as a non-profit corporation.
Gerry and one other advisor were instrumental in laying the groundwork
for the establishment of the foundation.
In 1992, Gerry and University of Victoria law professor Mary Anne Waldron,
Q.C., co-authored a report for BCREA titled The Disclosure Dilemma:
Real Estate Agent for Whom? The report examined Canadian and American
laws and practice relating to the agency relationship of seller, real estate
agent and sub-agent, and the difficulty of adhering to the duties of disclosure
and confidentiality. The recommendations in the report led to the substitution
of buyer agency for sub-agency as a general practice and the
introduction of disclosure methods for real estate practitioners, both under
statute (the Real Estate Act) and industry guidelines through the Canadian
Real Estate Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practices.
In Gerry’s work with BCREA and the Victoria Real Estate Board, his people
and professional skills shone. In 1999, Gerry was awarded an honorary
life membership in BCREA in recognition of his counsel and service to the
industry. In the same year, he was named as an honorary member of the
Victoria Real Estate Board in recognition of 25 years of service as board
solicitor.
Gerry was engaged in his community and, together with Pat, served
many organizations, including the Maritime Museum of British Columbia,
Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children, Downtown Victoria Business
Association, Probus Club of Royal Oak and the Victoria Symphony Society.
He was a life member of the Union Club of British Columbia, and he and
Pat were active members of the Camosun Gyro Club for over 55 years, a
dear fellowship of friends and fun that brought great joy to them.
Family was cherished by Gerry. With their daughter Sara’s arrival, the
three began a life that would be woven together over the decades with those
of other family members, including many nieces and nephews, and later
Sara’s husband Ken (d. 2008) and his family. Nothing made Gerry happier
than to be surrounded by people having fun—with skits, jokes and stories.
Gerry and Pat enjoyed vacations in Hawaii and hiking in the Rockies at
Lake O’Hara (long into their 80s), several trips to Europe and relaxing times
in the Gulf Islands at the family cottage. He was light-footed, whether on