Charles Edward Blackburn

Charles Edward Blackburn

aka ‘Charlie’

March 1, 1940-March 6, 2026

Charlie passed away on Friday March 6, 2026 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, BC. None of his family expected such a sudden demise and nor did he. We were not ready for this tremendous loss in our lives. To the end he was stalwart; he accepted his fate as he did life – philosophically, approaching the final stage of life’s journey with great courage and fortitude.

We plan to remember him at Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Road, Victoria, BC on Friday, March 20, 2-4 pm (Pacific Time). The service will be accessible by Zoom. Please request the link if needed.

Donations in his memory may be made to Esquimalt United Church, Christ Church Gabriola, or the ‘Plant a tree project (see the Earth’s Option Cremation and Burial Services).

On Saint David’s Day, March 1, Charlie celebrated his 86th birthday. Although he identified himself as a Welshman, having grown up in a small village near Cardiff, Wales, by an accident of fate during the early days of WW2, Charlie was actually born in Kidderminster, England. His father, John Redvers Blackburn (Red) a radio operator, was stationed there.

Charlie’s mother, Margaret Ellis Blackburn (nee Jenkins) nurtured her child well despite rationing and, even though the war raged on for the first five years of his life (he lived down the road from an ordnance factory which was a prime target for the bombers), childhood for Charlie was idyllic. He lived in the picturesque Rhiwbina Garden Village surrounded by those who loved the blue-eyed, curly-haired baby boy. His beloved sister, Barbara Burrowes, was born in 1945 and still lives in Wales, UK with her husband Aiden and her family.

Early in life Charlie’s grandfather provided for a private education, but by the time he was about to take the eleven plus exams Charlie asked to attend the local public school with his neighbourhood friends. On passing his exams and, despite a debilitating stutter that developed at the age of six, he attended Whitchurch Grammar School and later went on to Swansea University to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in geology. Charlie loved the summer field mapping excursions in Northern Norway working towards his goal of becoming a professional geologist.

Geology was always his passion and drawing maps, his gift.

Charlie emigrated from Wales to Canada and undertook a Master’s of Science degree at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario where he met his wife of sixty years Christine (nee Spence) – also a recent UK immigrant. It was love at first sight. The couple were married after a two-month courtship. They left for Italy where Charlie studied the metamorphic puzzle of the Seisia-Lanzo zone in the Valle d’Aosta at the University of Padua, Italy. He liked that his office was right opposite the Cappella Della Scrovegni – famous for its Giotto frescoes. His time in Italy left him with an enduring love for the people and culture there.

Back in Canada in 1969 Charlie became the dad of Meghan Ellis Blackburn, a beautiful daughter who he absolutely adored. To provide for his little charge, in 1970 Charlie accepted a position as a mapping geologist with the Ontario Government in Toronto.

In 1972, Charlie became the proud father of a son, Gwylim Seaton Blackburn. Having his family around was so important to Charlie. Meghan trained as an artist and art therapist and is now an accomplished care giver in Victoria. We all were ecstatic when the Blackburn-Vibert family eventually moved from Quebec to Victoria for Gwylim to take up a research scientist position with the Federal Government.

As a field geologist, Charlie spent summers of his early career in ‘the bush’ of Northern Ontario and didn’t see too much of his children or his wife. In the winter time he spent long days commuting from Port Credit, Mississauga to his office at Queens Park. Weekends, a lot of the time, were spent making improvements to his tiny, well-loved home. He tackled home improvements all his married life; he loved his various home(s), his chair, his family photos, his books, his records, his CDs, his musical instruments, and playing his clarinet in Esquimalt United Church every Sunday.

As the children grew, Charlie saw the need to be with his family more and so accepted the position of Resident Geologist in Kenora, Ontario. He loved his time there, made many friends, and became a baptised Christian and member of Knox United Church when he met an exceptional minister, Rev. Bob Stiven. This was a turning point in Charlie’s life. He helped with cubs, spent time with his children, and was surrounded by his beloved Precambrian rocks and lakes. Life was good in Kenora. Charlie retired from his position at 60 after 30 years of service and, with Christine, became co-founder of their consulting company Blackburn Geological Services.

On moving to Kenora, music re-entered Charlie’s life. He dug out his clarinet, and then decided to tackle the alto saxophone. He joined some of the local musical productions and sang tenor in the church choir like a true Welshman. Later in life, because of his grandchildren, he took up the cello and piano hoping to pass his love of music on to future generations.

But, when his first beautiful grandson, Tomos Blackburn Larmour, was born to Meghan and her ex-husband Matthew Larmour (now known as Skye) in May, 2003, life changed again. Charlie was always very close to his grandfather and wanted to be the best Grandad for Tomos - so a move to British Columbia was made.

Now, over twenty years later, Tomos is about to graduate from the University of Victoria with a double major. We are all so proud of him. Meghan and her partner Kimmen Jew have always been a good support to Charlie and were terrific travel companions on annual trips to Mexico.

Charlie’s two younger grandchildren were born to Gwylim and his partner Samantha Vibert, in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Aline, 9, and Ryan, 7, are the light of all our family’s lives. Time spent talking to Sam in the kitchen was very special to Charlie; he loved Sam and the lively conversations he had with her.

In retrospect, we have realised Charlie’s health had been declining for some time. His heart was wearing out as were his kidneys. But, as he sat in a sunny window in Starbucks (his favourite coffee place) on Wednesday afternoon enjoying ‘a good sit down, a cup of tea, and a piece of cake’ for ‘teatime’ -his favourite time of the day - none of us imagined that he would be gone forever two days later. I am sure his message to you all would be, ‘enjoy every moment of your time on this beautiful earth’.

Charlie loved his cottage on Gabriola Island and his other community of faith at Christ Church Gabriola so that is where we will leave some of his ashes this summer when his sister, Barbara, has planned to visit. We also wish to have a reception at that time to celebrate Charlie’s life. Later, we hope some ashes can be left on the family grave in Cardiff.

Thank you for being part of Charlie’s wonderful life. To say he is missed is an understatement.