Charles Dudley WHISKER

Charles Dudley Whisker CD

Charles Whisker, age 68, passed away on Friday, Aug. 11, 2006 following a courageous battle with cancer. Born on June 28, 1938 in Nanaimo, BC to the late Charles Whisker and Vernis Dudley. Charles attended public school and went on to complete a Degree in Education at the University of Victoria that began a life long love for all aspects of education. He began his Nanaimo school district teaching career in 1962, beginning with Dufferin Crescent Elementary and moving on to the Secondary level at Woodlands and John Barsby. Charles’ love of learning lead him to initiate the first distance education from theUniversity of Victoria where he completed a Mastersin Education and fulfilled Vice Princepalships at both Ladysmith and Nanaimvo Senior Secondary schools. Charles had a passion for history and Geography that he whole heartedly invested time and energy to both the students in the classroom and in the direction and development of BC school curriculums. Charles was an active participant of the volunteer community, being a member of he Nanaimo Branch 257 Royal Canadian Legion, Lodge 110 of the Masons, the Canadian Frontiersmen, and had especially strong commitments and ties to the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps and St. John’s Ambulance. He served as Commanding Officer of the 2422 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corp. and later as an Area Cadet Liaison Officer for Vancouver Island, Pacific Region, achieving the rank of Major with 17 years of service. Charles also had a long and distinguished career with the St. John’s Ambulance where he served for many years as Board chairman. He was instrumental in the recruitment of the St. John Ambulance Building Fundraising committee and was especially proud of the completion of the new building and facilities as well as the level of service provided by it’s members. In recognition of hisgreat service, Charles was made a Commander of the Order of St. John which was presented to him by the Lt. Governor of BC, Iona Campagnolo.Charles had an inate ability to move from serious administrator to jovial conversationalist, enjoying meeting and talking with people while boating, travelling, working and especially the morning coffee ‘crew’ at Esquires which entailed some tall tales and impromptu history lessons. He is survived by family members, Lynn Dean, Karen (Ellis) and Larry, as well as his dearly loved grandkids Courtney, Brooke, Helena, Jake, Maya and Logan. His family would like to thank friends that came to visit, those were times that he cherished dearly, with special thanks to Gavin, Jack, Bill and Gord. A service in celebration of Charles life will be held at the St. John House, 2250 Labieux Road Nanaimo V9T 6J9 at 7 p.m. on Monday, August 28, 2006. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. John’s Ambulance to help support the “Charles Whisker Memorial Bursary Fund.”