Denis Coupland, aged 82 of Brentwood Bay, died on February 18, 2023. He is survived by his children, Jason and Kristen, and his grandsons, James and Aidan. Denis loved hiking, cycling and kayaking around Vancouver Island. He was passionate about protecting the environment through his involvement with the Saanich Inlet Protection Society and the Peninsula Streams Society.
Condolences may be offered to family below.
McCall Gardens
www.McCallGardens.com.
-
Ellen Kaye
-
Newton Hockey Farewell Denis and thank you for your friendship through the Peninsula Streams Society. We shared time around the boardroom table and in many streams collecting water samples and testing them in his home. The annual dinners and fundraising auctions were special times with you. Thank you, my Green friend.
-
Arlene Cross Denis will be missed by the communities he helped establish. He liked to passionately say “IN MY BACKYARD”! …the Streams to flow, all the wild species welcome, of course Native Plants would flourish in his backyard. His car always smelled like clam chowder because he was hauling all the necessary equipment! I smile and think of those days when I have my chowder. I learned a lot from Denis about the natural world. Wonderful memories. Forever grateful ❣ Arlene Cross
-
Shelly Desjardins So sorry for your loss condolences to you and the family during this difficult times
-
Ian Bruce My experiences with Denis date back to 2000 when we started working together on local creeks. Through his leadership, Peninsula Streams Society was created in 2002 and we’re still going strong today. Denis was the Treasurer of PSS for 17 years and, with myself as Executive Coordinator we worked closely together. If you know Denis and I, that meant we butted heads at times but always found ourselves laughing about it over a beer soon afterwards!
Denis’ dedication to the environment, especially of KENNES watershed and Saanich Inlet was inspiring to so many over the years.
I’ve achieved my second career objectives of ecological restoration, Environmental education and mentoring volunteers and students. This was possible because of Denis’ support and dedication, for which I will be eternally grateful. Together we’ve managed to enrich the lives of thousands…R.I.P. and happy paddling my friend…
-
Ryan Windsor Denis was a rare individual in this world. I met him shortly after moving to the Saanich Peninsula over a decade ago as a politically determined environmentally motivated person looking for action. Denis and I became close immediately because of our shared determination in politics and to restore the natural environment even despite a large disparity in age.
During my time as a volunteer with Peninsula Streams I could always count on Denis, (who knew who would do work if summoned), to call me to make sure I showed up. My all time favourite photo with Denis was taken around 2012 I suspect where I have just emerged from some part of the Kenes watershed (for which his passion never abated) covered in mud where Denis had us doing manual restoration work to clear the stream and planting trees. The photo was taken a short time before retiring to the then Bleue Coyote pub for wings and drinks.
Shortly before this past Christmas Denis phoned me out of the blue as cheerful as ever wanting to go for wings, a trip we had to cancel due to snow. I regret not having the opportunity to go for wings and drink one last time with Denis. I could go on for far longer about the many stories Denis I shared and his many stories that he shared with me but I can hardly see straight as I both cry and smile right now remembering my friend Denis. I am forever grateful to Denis as I don’t think I would be were I am today without having had the privilege of all the support he provided to me.
Ryan Windsor, Mayor of Central Saanich
-
Andrew Roman Denis and I met and became friends in high school in Montréal, in 1957, and through our undergraduate studies at McGill University.
Our friendship continued in Ottawa as we each married and eventually had children. Our children played together (and are still in contact). This continued for several years until Denis eventually moved to British Columbia while I continued living in Ottawa and Toronto.
A few years ago I renewed our friendship by visiting Denis at his house here in BC. He took us hiking through some beautiful wooded trails and showed us some of the water cleanup projects he was working on. A few months ago I moved to BC as well, and was planning to get together with him over the summer when the construction on our house has been completed.
Sadly, he is gone now and I will be unable to see him again. He contributed a lot to my life and happiness, as I hope I did to his.
My condolences to Kristen and Jason and his grandchildren, as well as to Karen, who was his wife for some 25 years and the mother of his children.
Andrew
-
Karen Coupland I met Denis when I was 19 years old. He was 26 years old and was working for the Canadian Labour Congress in Ottawa. He was always passionate about causes. When we first met he was writing briefs on feminism for submission to the government. A year later he took a month’s long leave from his CLC job to participate in the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. It was 1967. The following year he entered a global competition for a position at the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland and won it. I joined him a few months later. We loved every moment of our time in Geneva. When we returned to Canada we got married and shortly after began our family. We had two beautiful children, Kristen and Jason, who have grown up to be wonderful, caring adults of whom we are very, very proud. Denis always loved being by water, especially the ocean. It was very fitting that when he left his life in Ottawa he moved back to Vancouver Island, where he had been born, and became a steward of the environment.
-
Brian Koval Denis will always be an inspiration to me.
Having worked with him with the Peninsula Streams Society, we quickly became friends. His honesty, commitment to the natural world, and passion to do what was right, are all things this world could use more of, making this such a huge loss. It is sad to think he will not be there the next time we visit, but we will hold him in our hearts wherever we go.
Denis will always be an inspiration to me.
I first met Denis in 1996 when we became neighbours on East Saanich road. He was invited to my home for all special occasion’s including birthdays, Easter, New Year’s Eve parties and Thanksgiving. During these times I became friends with his mother and his sister and assisted them in their home with chores and running errands. I was Denis’ household cleaner for many years and only in the past year stopped cleaning. But still made an effort to visit him and share a glass of wine. It saddens me to think I will never see him again. Long may you Rest In Peace Denis.