Bruce Kim Nielsen

Bruce was born in Vancouver and grew up on a blueberry farm in east Richmond. He was a first-generation Dane, both his parents having immigrated from Denmark in 1951. He would tell the most amazing stories about the history of his family in Vancouver including his Aunt Inger’s beauty salon on Robson street where his grandmother also ran a rooming house. It was in this rooming house that his grandmother served Murchie’s coffee and knew Mr. Murchie. Murchie’s was, and is, the coffee of choice in our household. His aunt also lived in a house on the beach that is now John Lawson Park. We would regularly visit a tree there, next to the Silk Purse, that was planted and maintained by his grandfather. The family’s farmhouse is still standing in Richmond near Blundell Road on No. 6 Road.

Two of the most important people in Bruce’s life were his Mom Ellen and his Aunt Inger. He spent countless hours in their kitchens cooking with them. He was a fine cook and loved hosting dinner parties with close friends. His bananas flambé with maple walnut ice cream was something else!

Bruce LOVED music. Truly LOVED music. He began playing drums in his childhood and, after graduating from high school and some time at Vancouver Community College, he toured the country with a rock band. Upon his return to Vancouver, he started hanging out at the Classical Joint where he learned to play, and love, jazz. He was a professional jazz drummer for about 18 years, producing two CDs and was featured on other musician’s CDs and demo’s, played on CBC radio shows, in the jazz festival and on cruise ships. He also trained at the Banff Centre and took lessons in New York City with Terry Clarke and Victor Lewis. At this point, he also went to UBC to study music composition. You can read more about his music, hear some of his recordings as a jazz musician, and hear his last piano trio recording at https://musicforpianotrio.ca/ .

Eventually, Bruce went back to UBC for a degree in Education and started teaching music and band at Emily Carr Elementary. He so enjoyed teaching marimbas and other music to the kids. He wanted them to have fun and enjoy music as much as he did.

Bruce’s other main passion was hiking and backpacking. He spent countless summer days in the mountains of the North Cascades and Rockies. His mountain photography was spectacular. It was in the mountains, on a backpacking trip with his friend Blair that he met his wife Jacqui in 2013. They enjoyed so many great times in the mountains before 2019 when MS took away his ability to go into the backcountry.

For 20 years, Bruce was also an ardent practitioner of Zen Buddhism, studying at Great Vow Zen Monastery in Clatskanie, Oregon and helping to found the North Shore Zendo. In 2008 he took Jukai (the ethical precepts) in and received the Dharma name Shotoku, which means "manifest virtue". He wanted people to know that Buddhism was very important to him, that he practiced it (in his own imperfect way), and that it really helped him.

Bruce is survived by his brother Paul (Linda), niece Lindsay (Trevor) and nephew Daniel (Taryn) along with grandnephews Will, Sam, and Luca. He will be dearly missed by so many including close friends Steve, Anusha, Mike, Paul, Blair, Eric and many more. And, of course, by his wife Jacqui.

In lieu of flowers, please take a walk in the mountains or listen to a great jazz tune and think of Bruce. Donations to BC Parks trail maintenance, North Shore Rescue, or any organization that promotes music for youth are appreciated.