Wesley David Meiklejohn

Father, husband, son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, and friend to many, Wesley Meiklejohn passed away peacefully at home on January 18, never waking that morning.

Wes spent nearly his entire life in Victoria, and was a thoughtful and articulate boy who wrote piercingly beautiful poems while still in grade school. As he grew, so did his curiosity and compassion. In his teenage years he became a devoted animal lover, a savvy observer of politics, and a lifelong car enthusiast. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Victoria and began his career working in the non-profit sector, supporting disadvantaged and often homeless members of the community he cared so much about.

In 2001, Wes met his beloved lass from Newfoundland, Heather (née White). They married in 2008 and built a life rooted in love, laughter, and shared values. He later joined the BC Public Service, working his way through the ranks to become a policy analyst in the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. Alongside this work, Wes and Heather raised their two children, Calan (born 2010) and Ellery (born 2014), who were the centre of his world and his greatest source of pride. Wes was a devoted, intuitive, empathetic, intelligent, and genuinely funny husband and father. He paid attention. He showed up. He loved deeply.

Wes’s beautiful children say what they will miss most is his wonderfully terrible “dad” jokes and the precious one-on-one time they shared with him. They will forever cherish how he met them where they were, making it easy to talk openly about anything at all. They appreciate his special way of truly hearing them, even the unspoken, and of helping them work through whatever was weighing on their hearts.

In his professional life, Wes was known as someone who thought carefully, acted with integrity, and spoke bravely. He brought fresh ideas, challenged assumptions, and encouraged conversations centred on fairness and social equity, earning the trust and respect of everyone around him. For a time, he served as a Union Steward, offering steady advocacy and caring support to those who needed it most. Wes will be fondly remembered for his many accomplishments and for his generous, thoughtful, and deeply compassionate spirit.

Wes was also a true friend. He listened without judgment, remembered the details that mattered, and could always be counted on in moments of crisis or quiet need. Whether offering sound advice, sharp humour, or stable presence, he made people feel understood and less alone. His friendships were long-standing and meaningful, built on loyalty, honesty, and care, honed by his kindness, sense of humour, and intellect.

Wes lived with alcohol use disorder, a serious, complex and often misunderstood illness. He worked hard to manage it and fought for his health over several years, experiencing periods of recovery and hope. Despite his efforts, the disease ultimately overtook him. His struggle deserves to be named, not hidden, both to honour the reality of his experience and to acknowledge the many others facing the same battle. Still, alcohol use disorder was only one part of Wes’s story and does not define who he was. It does not erase the love he gave, the friendships he nurtured, the ideas he shared, or the deeply loving father and husband he was.

Wes was predeceased by his mother, Brenda Meiklejohn (née Pedersen), in 2015. He is survived by his wife Heather; son Calan; daughter Ellery; father Duncan (Kathy Baan); brothers Cameron (Kathleen Marshall), Greg Baan-Meiklejohn and Alex Baan-Meiklejohn, all of Victoria; grandmother Carol Meiklejohn of Penticton; and a close-knit bevy of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws spanning many provinces of this fine country, from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland, a family Wes would have proudly and affectionately described as truly Canadian.

Wes was deeply loved and supported, and he loved deeply in return. He will be remembered for his kindness, intellect, humour, insight, and the deep care he held for others throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Wes’s memory may be made to the Umbrella Society or the Canadian Mental Health Association.