Douglas Robert Buckham

Douglas Robert Buckham, 71, sadly passed away unexpectedly on September 5, 2024, in Courtenay, B.C.

Doug was born on October 4, 1952, in New Denver in the West Kootenay area of B.C. His formative years were spent in nearby Sandon and then New Denver. His parents predeceased him, Thomas Rogers Buckham and Jean Louise (nee Williscroft). Doug is survived by his three siblings Tom (Joan), Marjorie (Steve) and Joyce (Chuck). His nephew and nieces are Kevin (Meena), Keri (Ryan) and Nicole. His great nephews and great niece include Brent, Dean, Kian, and Eira. He is also survived by his special friend, Sandi, in Calgary.

Doug's family moved to North Vancouver in 1960, where he graduated from Delbrook High School. Over those years, he became involved in many activities such as swimming, skiing, fishing, camping, hiking as well as reading. He was a dedicated fan of the B.C. Lions, starting with belonging to Woodward's Quarterback Club in the 1960's which allowed him to sit in the end zone of the former Empire Stadium.

In 1970, he became a devoted follower of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. Doug was always an avid reader, particularly enjoying military history, especially the two World Wars, investigating some aspects in depth. He studied military arms and equipment, as well as areas where the conflicts ensued. Models were made of some of this equipment, such as airplanes, tanks, and ships.

Doug learned to ski on Mount Seymour and, along with Joyce, improved their skiing techniques. Later, they travelled to Whistler for longer runs. Doug and a high school friend skied on several interior mountains for deep powder experiences. Many of these activities and interests were life-long pursuits.

While living in North Vancouver, Doug assisted with yard work such as painting the house and the ongoing chore of removing roots from the poplar trees that were causing problems in their septic field. He helped Mom, by carrying groceries up the hill from the store. For family vacations into the B.C. Interior, he helped with loading the car and setting up campsites. Once he obtained his driver's license, he shared the driving with Dad during these vacations.

After high school, Doug was employed by the Greater Vancouver Regional District where Dad worked at the time. As he was the junior member of his crew, he often was assigned tasks they didn't want, such as working in muddy, dirty areas, or crawling through long pipes to complete the job. Realizing this was not what he wanted long term, he decided to return to school.

He attended BCIT where, in 1976, he completed his Diploma of Technology in Surveying. He articled in Victoria and obtained his B.C. Land Surveyor (BCLS) accreditation in 1982. He worked all over Vancouver Island, travelling on the old Island highway, and into northern B.C. via airplanes and helicopters. He explored many small communities in the province. Along with his employer, he developed an interest in the historical records of properties he was working on. On Sundays, their day off, they would hike into remote areas, visit with interesting and well experienced prospectors, and caught some fish. Doug was especially happy to discover, later in life, he had spent time on an isolated creek near Dease Lake where his great grandfather had discovered gold in 1875.

In the 1970's, Doug assisted in designing and building the family waterfront cabin in Deep Bay. Being dexterous, and ambidextrous, he became skilled in the trades. He constructed a dinghy from a kit which is still usable, and installed the electrical wiring in the cabin.

He particularly enjoyed fishing with the family, especially with Mom, and would clean the salmon at the shoreline where dogfish would appear for the scraps. Evenings were spent relaxing with campfires on the beach. Being outdoors, appreciating nature was a large part of his life.

In 1995, Doug moved to Cranbrook and continued surveying for about twenty years. The spectacular mountains and scenery offered a new area to explore with his work. In Cranbrook, he joined a curling league, engaging in weekly games during their season. Junior hockey was popular locally. He attended many local hockey games. At the invitation of his employer, his time was volunteered for the nearby Fort Steele restoration of the Thomas McVittee house and buildings. McVittee was an early surveyor in the area and went on to become a respected member of the community in other roles, such as a Justice of the Peace.

In the early 2000's, Doug set about building his house in Cranbrook. He modified the blueprints and chose all the finishing touches. He was proud to move in. In hindsight, he wondered if the driveway was too long as it was a challenge to shovel all the snow during the long winters. Doug met Sandi in Calgary and enjoyed her company, along with her dog Abby and cat Norman. Abby and Doug loved spending time walking together.

Doug spent time with his family in Coquitlam for Christmases especially when Nicky was young. He vacationed with many of us in Puerto Vallarta one year.

Doug spent eight early Septembers house boating with Marjorie and her two long-time friends, on Shuswap Lake. He was comfortable being the captain of the 38-foot houseboat and maneuvered it well from the outset. He thoroughly enjoyed the lake and hiking trails whenever possible. Being outdoors was relaxing, with opportunities to fish. Evenings on the beach, where he built a good bonfire for roasting marshmallows rounded out many pleasurable days. 

At times, he would meet Marjorie at Ainsworth Hot Springs on Kootenay Lake. They often drove to Kaslo and Sandon. On one occasion, TSN was televising the Logger Sports show in Kaslo. They both liked the history of the area, and felt at home amongst the mountains and the old buildings. 

Another highlight for Doug was attending three curling events at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Watching Canada play Norway for the gold medal was an exciting time for Doug.

In 2017, Doug retired to Courtenay, where his early morning walks involved meeting others, often with their dogs, on the nearby oceanfront trail. The dogs took to Doug, expecting to be petted while he chatted with their owners. Doug was always curious when in nature, and observed wildlife throughout the seasons, often witnessing eaglets in their nests waiting to be fed. He was usually accompanied by his camera to record his adventures. Accompanied by Marjorie and Steve, Doug ventured across the Salish Sea to Bute Inlet to watch grizzlies feeding on salmon on a small wilderness creek, from the safety of the raised viewing platforms. Cameras recorded every move the grizzlies made of this exceptional experience. Visits to a variety of beaches, museums, and parks, including playing mini-golf in Parksville, provided entertainment on the Island. Doug continued to get together with family, with many gatherings at the Deep Bay cabin.

Doug was a loyal employee with a strong work ethic. He was a gentle person, always kind to others and animals throughout his life. He was curious about the world around him and loved spending time outdoors with nature. We remember him with love, and he is very much missed by his family.

There will be a family Celebration of Life at Deep Bay on May 31, 2025.