Donald Evan MacDonald

NOVEMBER 09, 1952 – JANUARY 15, 2023

Don was born in St. Paul, Alberta, to parents Esther and Malcolm Macdonald and moved to Edmonton as a young boy. Don was never good at sports so gravitated to science. He loved rocks, fossils and anything to do with outer space. In about the 4th grade, Don came into class after recess with his pockets bulging with rocks. The teacher made him empty his pockets. But from then on, he wanted to be a paleontologist or geologist. When Don was 16, his father Mac passed away. This caused him considerable existential angst over the meaning of life. Don converted to Buddhism when he was 20 and remained a practicing Buddhist his entire life: meditation each morning became an important part of his daily routine. At university, Don settled on geology and earned a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta.

After graduation, Don worked as a geology lab technician and then as a junior geologist. He worked for 15 years at the Alberta Geological Survey.

Don and Betty (nee Klewchuk) met at a geology field camp in 1974. Don was a junior geologist and Betty, coming from a large Ukrainian family, was the camp cook. They were married in Flin Flon, Manitoba in 1975 at the Klewchuk family cottage. In 1977 they bought their first house in the community of Glenora and began their family. They had 3 boys: Paul, Jeremy, and Sean.

Don’s family loved to camp and a trip to the Drumheller badlands to search for dinosaur bones was often the first leg of a family holiday. Don continued the camping tradition with his children, and picked up the canoeing tradition from Betty. Jeremy recalls with fondness many family camping and canoeing trips in Alberta, B.C., and the U.S. west coast. Don rarely went on a hike without his trusty (and heavy) rock hammer.

Don left geology around 1990 and worked as an energy research manager for five years. In 1995, Don moved on to become a climate change and environmental policy advisor with the Alberta Government. In this role, Don travelled around the world attending United Nations talks on climate change. Don retired from the Alberta Government after 33 years and began part time sessional teaching at MacEwan University where he taught earth sciences, environmental studies and climate change courses.

Betty and Don moved to Vancouver Island in 2015 and bought a condominium in Sidney. After the move to Vancouver Island, Don began teaching science courses at the University of Victoria, Continuing Studies Facility and also mindfulness meditation at the McTavish Academy of Art.

Introverted, trusting, willing to change and seek new opportunities, a committed Buddhist and always interested in the bigger questions of life would describe Don to many who knew him. However, his many nieces and nephews would describe him as a favorite uncle, a great story teller often using voices and stories to create an amazing world of wonder. As the nieces and nephews have become young adults, Uncle Don was always up for a new game or chat, ¬¬always willing to pass on his knowledge and always, always took a genuine interest in their new lives.

A highlight in Don’s life over the past three years was teaching science (and telling stories) via ZOOM to his grandson. Martin will miss his weekly lessons with his Grandpa Don.

Don was diagnosed with brain cancer in July, 2022 and remained active and optimistic throughout his treatment.

Don is predeceased by parents Esther and Malcolm Macdonald, sister Patricia McDonald and his sons Paul and Sean.

Don is survived by his wife Betty Macdonald, son Jeremy (Svetla) and two grandchildren, Martin and Laura.

A celebration of Life will be held on Saturday May 27, 2023 from 1:00 to 4:00pm at the Shoal Centre, 10030 Resthaven Drive, Sidney BC.