January 6, 1935 - June 3, 2025
The Grant family is sad to report the death of husband, father and grandfather - Peter Nigel Grant. He will be sorely missed by his wife of 64 years, Mary; children Murray (Vicky), Cindy (predeceased by Dale) and Mandy (Mark); and his four grandchildren - Nina, Dania, Kai and Reale.
Nigel was born in Dundee, Scotland on January 6, 1935. He was educated at Dundee High School (founded in the 1200s), Fettes College in Edinburgh and St. Andrews University, graduating at age 20 in civil engineering. He joined a consulting engineering company, working on hydroelectric construction and design and left the UK in August 1957 for Vancouver, Canada. Over the years, he worked for several consulting engineers, participating in the Keenleyside Dam design, studies on a third crossing of the Burrard Inlet, and engineering studies under a CIDA program for Belize City.
In 1975, he joined BCHydro and enjoyed a very interesting career in generation planning, Executive Assistant to the President, managing the Environmental Division and retiring in 1996.
In 1957, he was snared by Mary, who was also a recent immigrant from England. They were married in October 1958 and lived in a neat penthouse in the West End where Murray was born. In the interim, they had a 3-month stint in Waikiki, where Nigel was working.
In February 1962, they bought a rancher at 1375 Kings in West Vancouver. They spent 14 happy years there through two expansions to accommodate the arrivals of Cindy and Mandy. Shortly after moving in, Nigel was transferred to Toronto for nearly a year, accompanied by Mary and Murray. Over time, they moved to two other houses in West Vancouver and eventually to a condo in Ambleside.
Nigel was very active in his community, sitting on the Advisory Design Panel and Advisory Planning Commission (one year as Chair) for West Vancouver.
Following retirement, Nigel was still very active in his community through the Seniors Activity Centre, where he taught computers, created a flight simulator club and sat on the Advisory Board for four years.
The second love in Nigel’ s life was playing classical piano, and this really came to the fore in retirement. He toured all the North Shore senior centres and retirement homes playing Beethoven 3,4 and 5 and Grieg concertos, accompanied by a CD of the symphony orchestra.
The third love of his life was convertibles, starting in 1955 with a 1940 Series E Morris tourer.
In retirement, Nigel and Mary travelled extensively in Europe, New Zealand, the US and Canada, initially hiking and biking until eventually, the older years relegated them to tours, then eventually cruise ships. They had many happy memories.
Nigel died with his children surrounding him and a Dairy Queen ice cream. We are so proud of how he handled his passing.
A Celebration Of Life will be held for Nigel at West Vancouver United Church on Sunday, September 21, at 1:30 pm, with a reception to follow at West Vancouver Community Centre.
