A. David Giles

With peaceful hearts, we announce the passing of our dear father, David Giles, who passed on May 18 to join his beloved wife (Julie) on the other side. While we will miss him greatly, we are also happy he has been able to move on – after a number of health challenges – having lived a long and fulfilling life.

David is survived by his five children – Mark (Kristina), Robert (Tami), Nicola (Abbie), Jennifer (Tod) and Helen (Greg) – 18 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren (with two more on the way), and a sister (Barbara) and her family in the UK. He took great interest in the lives and activities of all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren – and had a very sharp memory, remembering all their names and ages. His tremendous love for animals was also apparent to anyone who knew him, and the Giles home was almost always shared with at least one pet – and sometimes several – over the decades.

At 93, he lived a long life – in the UK, B.C. and Alberta. Born in Manchester, UK, in 1932, he lived through WWII as a young boy – growing up in Leeds where his father was an Anglican minister. In his late teens and early-to-mid 20’s, he was a top-level motocross rider on the UK circuit, leaving what is a dangerous sport to start a family.

A physiotherapist by training, he met his wife of 64 years (Julie) – our mother – while working at a British hospital where she was also working, as an occupational therapist, and they were married in 1957. Living and working in Derbyshire, then Yorkshire for the next nine years, the family emigrated to Canada in 1966 – a bold and courageous move, which included an almost one-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on the Queen Elizabeth (ship), followed by a cross-country train ride (with three small children at the time) from Montreal to Calgary. Living in Calgary for a few months initially, the family missed the “green” of the UK and drove across the Rocky Mountains – settling in the Lower Mainland, B.C. for the next 15 years: West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Maple Ridge.

During those years, David worked as a B.C. government hospital inspector, as an area campaign manager for the Vancouver United Way, and as the assistant administrator for the Maple Ridge Hospital, before moving to private practice and setting up a physiotherapy clinic in Surrey for several years.

Moving to Raymond, Alberta in 1981 (and later to Lethbridge in 1990), he again set up a physiotherapy clinic – practicing passionately for another two decades before retiring more than 20 years ago. In 2021, he was recognized by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association as one of the top 100 physiotherapists in Canada over the past 100 years (Retired physiotherapist honoured for a lifetime of helping others).

We are all incredibly grateful for his support – and his strength and love through good times and bad – over seven decades as a family. As the patriarch and leader of our family, he was a positive influence on our lives and will be sorely missed.

He is now celebrating a life well lived with our mother, his parents (Eric and Mary Giles), a sister (Helen), a grandson (Devon Giles) and other family members who passed before him.

With much love – Mark, Robert, Nicola, Jennifer and Helen

David has requested a private memorial service, which will be held with family. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to donate in David’s honour are encouraged to donate to the Streets Alive Mission or Woods Homes in Lethbridge.

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