Phil Large

Life radiated from Phil, and his quick wit and humour are cherished by all who had the honour of knowing him.

Phil was known by many names. Mr. Large, Flying Phil, Philbee, Big Phil, 5-Pancake Guy, my friend Phil, and so many more. But the names he loved most were Dad and Opa.

Phil is deeply missed by his wife of 43 years, Dawn; his three children, Naomi (Jey), Marijke (Jon), and Bo; and his grandchild. He is also remembered with love by his siblings, Chris (Al) and Kim; his siblings-in-law, Russ and Heather; his dad, Earl; and his nieces and nephews across Canada and the United States. He was predeceased by his mom, Sylvia and Stepfather Monty.

From a young age, Phil was known for his unending energy and for putting his whole heart into everything he did. This passion and energy shone through in his roles as husband, dad, teacher, coach, developer, camp director, chair of the Justice Van Society, and beekeeper.

At home, he had an abundant imagination and created spaces for his children to play, explore, and express their creativity. He was known for his storytelling and developed an alternate world called “Gino Land” that his children, nieces, and nephews treasured. He also invented many unique games, such as the family-favourite playground game “Shoe Tag.” These are just two examples of the many special memories he actively made for his family.

Teaching was Phil’s true calling, and he cherished being a middle school teacher. His classroom overflowed with unique lamps, student work, hockey memorabilia, and motivational quotes covering every wall and ceiling. This vibrant space reflected the environment he fostered for his students each day: a place where they were nurtured and encouraged to be their most authentic selves. He especially loved the holidays, and each December his classroom was filled with so many trees, decorations, and lights that other classes would come on tours to see “Mr. Large’s room,” prompting the fire department to be called in to ensure the lights didn’t overload the circuits. Beyond his time in education, Phil spent several years as a project manager and foreman for Large & Co., building around 90 units in Victoria.

Outside of work, Phil was also a visionary member and chair of the Justice Van Society, a mobile outreach service providing support directly to unhoused people in Victoria. He volunteered as family camp director for almost a decade, creating unforgettable moments for countless families. Camp was where Phil’s humour and overflowing creativity flourished in full force.

Throughout his life, Phil loved travelling with his wife, Dawn, and their kids. Early in their marriage, they backpacked around the globe for a year. Later on, when their kids were young, they spent a year and a half overseas while Phil taught at an international school. In recent years, he frequented a horse ranch in the BC Interior, where he lived out his dream of riding horses from morning until dusk.

A central part of Phil’s life was his love of sports. Phil often said, “You learn about life by playing sports.” His sports journey began as a way for his mom to channel his rambunctious energy. Some of his favourite memories included unhinged bike races in the forest with his best friend, pitching a no-hitter at the provincial championship, winning nationals with the UVic varsity eight rowing team, coaching his kids' sports teams, and, co-founding the High School Rowing Program in Victoria, which has grown into the largest high school rowing program in Canada.

Phil courageously lived with ALS for five years, embracing his journey with a profound sense of the coexistence of joy and sorrow. One of the greatest expressions of love during this time came when dear friends built accessible paths at his home so he could sit in his power chair by the ocean, at a spot known as “The Point.” Here, Phil deepened his spirituality and meditative prayer practice with his Creator, moved by nature's diversity and how it was reflected in the people around him. He shared many meaningful conversations there with his friends and family. This journey was shared with his caring wife, his best friend and caregiver. He also found immense joy in calls with family, coffee with friends, time with his incredible caregivers, Western nights, trips to the movies, sitting by his beehives, advocating for the Justice Van Society, and walks (rolls) with his beloved dog.

Phil’s mantra, as he lived with ALS, was “soft heart, open mind.” We are grateful to Phil for teaching us this, alongside so many other lessons, by living it daily. To put it simply, he will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Justice Van Society or the ALS Society of BC would be greatly appreciated.

A celebration of life will be held in Victoria, BC, March 26th or 27th, 2027 (to-be-confirmed).