John COWIE

It is with deep sadness we announce the sudden passing of John Alexander Cowie in Nanaimo on November 17, 2020.

John grew up on Hornby Island, where he enjoyed being part of a large family. He was a jack-of-all-trades who took great pride in building a home for his family. He enjoyed spending time with his children, going so far as to harness his young son to the roof with him as he worked on roofing the house. John’s children and niece fondly remember their time on his sister Annie’s farm and the fun adventures they had while John worked there. He contributed to Hornby Island in many ways including working on the park for Tribune Bay. He also spent time working on cars, having completed an automotive pre-apprenticeship in 1979.

In his 30’s John moved with his partner Davina and two children to Nanaimo. John was an avid reader, particularly of books for self-improvement. His personal struggles with mental health and substance use contributed to his compassion for others and desire to further his learning in the area. In 1999 John attended Malaspina University-College and completed a Mental Health Worker Certificate. He continued his education in 2004 with training through Tillicum Hause Native Friendship Center to become a Substance Abuse Counselor. He subsequently became a counselor with the Tillicum Hause Society, a career he greatly enjoyed. In 2009 John began a long-term career at London Drugs. He was regarded for his attention to detail, pride in his work, and experience mentoring new employees.

John was a creative and talented person. He was a self taught painter and guitarist. He enjoyed astrology, reading, computers, and had a passion for cars.

He is survived by his son Daniel (Tamara), daughter Rosanna, former spouse Davina, brother Joseph (Charles), sisters Patricia (Chris), Annie (Harry), and Alice (Rod), granddaughter Ava, nephews Andrew, Kore, Tristan, and Dylan, nieces Emily (Ryan) and Aileen (Jeff), and great-nephew Kai.

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