Ernest Wallace WHITESIDE

Wally was born on Cardero Street in Vancouver’s West End, the only child of Gladys Young and Ernest Whiteside.  He was born into a rollicking family of rum runners, brewery workers, and jazz musicians.   Singing and playing drums himself.

Growing up in Kitsilano, Wally loved sailing and competitive diving.  He was a proud Kits High Alumni, Class of ’42.  WWII was raging and he left school early, enlisting at 17 to the RCAF.  He was a wireless operator, with the rank of Corporal.  His final posting was back on the coast in Tofino.

Wally was an avid skier and ski patrol up Hollyburn Mountain.  Here he met a local West Van gal, Nancy Nicol, who he would wed in 1952.  Wally and Nancy had 3 red-headed children in 3 years.   They moved the family to West Van where they lived in the same house until Nancy’s death in 2009.

Wally ventured into the career world as a salesman.  Awarded top Xerox Western Region Salesman in 1963, winning a Caribbean cruise.  He then started a printing, copier company, Western Reproducers in downtown Vancouver.

When he retired, Wally became involved with computers, and genealogy in their infancy.  He was an elder of the Whiteside clan that could trace their ancestry back thousands of years.  His research was impeccable, and he left a legacy for future family members to enjoy.

Wally moved to Qualicum Beach in 2009.  A dream he had had since he was a small child on a family road trip.  He loved living in Qualicum where he became a happy member of the community.  Living independently until his final days.

Wally was an adventurer at heart.  Always positive and curious.  He loved road trips, camping, Disneyland, and Great Britain.  After Nancy passed in 2009, Wally started cruising at the tender age of 85.

Wally was an open, authentic, lovely man.  Deeply loved and cherished by his family and extended family.  He was good humoured, tolerant and he had a way of making everyone feel welcome and special.  His presence will be profoundly missed.

He leaves behind his children, Mark Whiteside, Nina Whiteside (Rob), and Lisa (Mike) Watson; seven grandchildren, Adrienne, Rita Langley, Bridgette, Madeleine, Forrest Watson, Simon and Christine Whiteside; four great grandchildren, Hudson, Everett, Mia, and Dawson.  He will also be remembered by the extended Whiteside family and the Nicol clan.

Wally would have turned 95 in July, so we are turning his birthday party into a Celebration of his Life.

The Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 27th, 2019 at Yates Memorial Services, 1000 Allsbrook Road in Parksville, BC.  A reception will follow the service.