William Douglas Kirby

With sadness, his family announces that William Douglas Kirby died unexpectedly at home on December 15, 2017. Born in Toronto, Doug was a son of the late Marion (Ernst) Kirby and Ronald Kirby. Doug is survived by his brothers, R. Lee Kirby (Patricia Keith) and Jeff Kirby; his niece, Sarah Kirby (Willy Palov); his nephews, Stuart Kirby (Robyn Archer) and David Kirby (Kathryn Hamilton); his ten grandnieces and grandnephews, his cousins, Patsy and Perri Ernst, Daniel, David and Vicki Scouler, and Brenda and Leonard Simpson; his best friend, Deborah Willis; and family-friend, Barry Smith. Doug spent his early school years in Halifax at Tower Road School and Queen Elizabeth High School. He then attended the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design where he received a degree in Fine Arts. In addition, Doug obtained a Certificate of Public Administration from the Dalhousie University Department of Political Science. He began working at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in his early adulthood and worked there for four decades until his recent retirement. In his role as media librarian/archivist, Doug was known and respected for his consistent dedication to the day-to-day demands of his position, and for his particular commitments to documentary film/media projects which had diversity, inclusion and historical-marginalization elements, including those related to Pier 21, Africville and (some dimensions of) the Halifax Explosion. Doug contributed significantly to, and had a special place in his heart, for the CBC's Land and Sea program that addresses the myriad, unique ways that rural Atlantic Canadians engage with the benefits and burdens of living on the East Coast. In the last two years of his life, Doug was working on the development of a private, media-related business venture which he called 01IVE Media File Brokers. Doug's relations with his family members, friends and colleagues were characterized

by immense personal warmth, thoughtfulness and generosity. He cared deeply for his niece and nephews, and he doted shamelessly on his grandnieces and grandnephews; Nick, Kai, Petra, Charlotte, Liam, Victoria, Isaac, Lachlan, Romy and Tyler. Doug attended compassionately to the day-to-day care needs of his elderly father who died in 2015. In recent years, he attended services at St. Matthew's United Church where he was also a volunteer in the outreach program that prepares and serves Sunday breakfasts to members of the homeless community of Halifax's downtown. A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 21st, from 5-8 p.m. in J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr., Halifax. A "Celebration of Life" memorial service will be held in 2018 when more of his "away" family members and friends can arrange to attend. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to a charity of your choice that has a focus on

social justice