With family to comfort him, Hector passed away peacefully in Victoria, BC at the age of 86, after a very full life. Still, we wish we had more active years to share with our beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother. Hector was born in St. Paul, Alberta to Emerentienne (Hurtubise) and Gerard Bussiere and descended from Jacques Bussiere who arrived in Quebec in 1643 and Noelle Gossard, a “fille de roi”. Four siblings predeceased him: Remi (Cathy), Art (Lucille), Adrien (Flore) and Reggie. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Diane Pierce, children Michelle (Jim), Marc (Cori) and Torben (Vanessa), 6 grandchildren (Ethan, Andrew, Liam, Emilie, Alia and Emerson) plus his sister Lucille (Greg) and brother Clem (Joy). For nearly 45 years Hector was an active member of St. Jean Baptiste Church in Victoria, BC for his faith was a very important part of his life. He also enjoyed being a part of Victoria’s French community. Hector grew up on the family farms in Cork and later where the UFA is today. He received his formal horticultural education in Quebec and on his return to St. Paul opened Hec’s Flower Shop. He fell in love with Victoria and soon became the head gardener at Victoria’s Empress Hotel. Hector next went on to spend 32 years with the City of Victoria Parks Department, completing his career in 2001 as Ornamental Horticulturist. He felt so fortunate that horticulture directed his education, career and main hobby and enriched our visits to local and exotic places. Over his lifetime Hector acquired a great body of horticultural knowledge and an exceptional ability to weave together his threads of observations, skills and knowledge. Hector was a quietly self-assured man who generously and cheerfully shared his horticultural knowledge with generations of novice, student and skilled gardeners alike in the Victoria Horticultural Society and at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. Hector’s memorial service will be this summer in Victoria’s St. Jean Baptiste Church.
