10/16/2025
John Currie
With great sadness we announce the passing of John Currie in the Vernon Jubilee Hospital on September 19th, 2025 at the age of 72 years. He is deeply missed by his sister, Sheila (Bill); brothers, Ian and Graeme (Xuan); and many friends throughout B.C. and beyond.
John was born in London, England on February 12th, 1953 and in 1965, together with his parents, Gordon and Patricia, immigrated to Canada. He revelled in the outdoor opportunities offered by living in Fernie, and then Prince Rupert, where he enjoyed hiking, camping and observing wildlife. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of British Columbia, John became a science teacher, inspiring students throughout his teaching career, which spanned over 30 years. At UBC and later with the Richmond Kajaks Club, he was a competitive long distance athlete, completing more than 20 marathons and travelling all over western Canada and the northern US states for track and cross-country meets. John was a long-term volunteer at track and field events at all levels, including officiating at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. After retiring to the Vernon area, he took up pickleball and resumed a youthful hobby, philately.
John loved the solitude of the outdoors. He treasured time spent with friends at his Peter Hope Lake cabin. Though fiercely independent, he was a thoughtful and considerate man, always offering to help others, a lover of history and fact-based historical fiction, folk music, spaghetti westerns, and hosting Sunday afternoon table tennis with friends and neighbours at Predator Ridge.
In respecting John’s wishes, he was cremated and an informal gathering will be held for his friends and family to share memories and stories. Details will be shared once available. As an expression of sympathy, those who wish to do so may send donations in memory of John to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation, designated for the McMurtry-Baerg Cancer Center of the BC Cancer Foundation.