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We are sad to announce the sudden death of John Brooks Thomas of Quesnel on Friday, September 21st at the age of 87. John was born in Toronto in 1925 and attended the University of Toronto. He was director of St. Andrew’s House in Toronto. In 1957 he headed west and ended up in Dawson Creek, where he taught school at South Peace River Secondary. In 1963 he moved his family to Vancouver where he became director of International House at UBC. In the late 1960’s, John redirected his energies into counselling, completing a Master’s in counselling psychology at SFU. He worked in various capacities in the Vancouver area, including creating the Rose Garden Cooperative in the downtown eastside, before moving to Quesnel. John believed in seeing the best in people and helping them to see the best in themselves; he also believed in good nutrition, in social justice, and in standing up for what is important. He lived his beliefs every day of his life.


John leaves his five children, Kate (Dale), Ken, Lynn (Michel), Hugh, and David (Kate), and six grandchildren, Amalie, Holly, Madeleine, Taylyn, Sebastian and Harry, his sisters Jean, Mary and Toni, and brothers William and Dean, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and his wide circle of family and friends in Quesnel, Vancouver and Ontario.


A celebration of John’s life including a potluck dinner and dance will be held this Saturday, September 29, 2012

at 1 pm at the

Quesnel Tillicum Friendship Centre at 319 North Fraser Drive, Quesnel.