Peter Weinrich

Peter Henry Moore Weinrich was born in England, on May 20, 1932. He passed away October 29, 2013 in Victoria, BC. His children Heather (Paul Weber), John (Jane Davidson), and David, step-children Carrick Ross, Janna Werry and Tyley Ross and grandchildren Michael and Andrea Weinrich and their mother Danielle, Daniel and Cameron Weber and many friends will always remember his kindness, humanity, creativity, humour and impressive intellect. Peter began his career in art and design as a manager-trainee at Harrods in London. He immigrated to Canada in 1958 and drove Treasure Van for WUSC, selling fair trade crafts across Canada, and subsequently managed The Artisans, a Toronto-based craft store promoting and selling the work of Canadian artists. After owning a jewelry importing business, The Golden Apple back in London, an antiquarian book business, Blue Heron Books in Toronto, and working with the United Nations helping countries set up export markets for crafts, Peter then spent the following 23 years as the first and only Executive Director of the Canadian Crafts Council. He helped create the Saidye Bronfman award for Crafts, and the Bronfman Collection at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. He was proud of the creation of the Cultural Human Resources Council and was a lifetime member of the RSA. A painter, calligrapher, piano player, and crossword puzzler, Peter was a personalized search engine for friends and family on an astonishing range of subjects. A published bibliographer (Social Protest from the Left in Canada, Tim Buck, and A Guide to Ceramics) with a particular interest in humanist anarchism, Peter enjoyed pointing out errors to the Oxford English dictionary in his spare time. Over the years he donated many of his important books to McMaster University, the University of Toronto Fisher Library and the University of PEI. On retiring, Peter continued his interest in law as the Chair of the Saanich Board of Variance. He volunteered with the Greater Victoria Arts Council, edited the Victoria Genealogical Societys Journal, was a member of the Fairbank Calligraphy Society, the Germans from Russia Society and the Humanist Society. His friends in Victoria benefited from his love of cooking at regular solstice and equinox dinners, the menus of which expressed his fascination with food and wine, classical and international recipes and flavours. Peters concern for a healthy democracy continued through prolific letter writing to prime ministers, bureaucrats and newspaper editors. Peter was much-loved by friends and family. He taught us by example to manage lifes challenges, and to act with integrity and care in all circumstances. He was a very sweet man, and a storyteller with a wicked sense of humour. We miss him enormously. Family and friends will gather at his home in Victoria on Saturday, November 9 from 2-4 p.m. to share stories, remembrances, and chocolate.