Tobin “Toby” Bruce Pike, cherished father, brother, uncle and steadfast friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria on July 16, 2021.
Toby was known for his quick wit, ironic sense of humour, and easy conversation. He was a compelling story teller, a skilled negotiator, and a respected voice for water stewardship in the Okanagan valley.
Toby is survived by his daughters, Cecily and Georgia, brother Ken, former spouse Tait, “auntie” Marissa, and many other family members and friends.
Toby was a devoted dad and delighted in spending time with Cecily and Georgia, playing soccer, jumping on the trampoline, skiing, swimming, camping, hiking, tubing on Okanagan River, and cooking gourmet meals.
Toby gave unwavering support to his family during many trips to B.C. Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, and Camp Goodtimes.
Toby loved life and always found time for fun. He rode his Victory motorbike on many road trips with friends. He was passionate about golf and could be found most lunch hours hitting a bucket of balls at Gallagher’s Canyon. He was one of those rare golfers who scored a hole-in-one, acing the fourth hole at the Kelowna Springs Golf Course in 2019.
Toby was born in Vancouver, B.C. on March 23, 1956 to Agar and Joyce Pike. He grew up in West Vancouver and graduated from Relevant High School.
In his early 20’s, he travelled extensively in Central America, Europe, and Morocco. During his summers, he worked at remote fish camps in Smith Inlet and Rivers Inlet on B.C.’s Central Coast. After completing studies in fisheries and aquaculture, he travelled to Newfoundland and worked as a seafood buyer for North Atlantic Fisheries.
Toby then worked as a technical advisor with the Gitga’at First Nation in Hartley Bay and the Gingolx First Nation in Kincolith, setting up salmon hatcheries under the federal Community Economic Development Program.
He was hired by J.S. McMillan Fisheries in Vancouver in 1986 to develop and manage the company’s new aquaculture division. He pioneered the first live haul of farmed salmon on the West coast, transporting fish live to market in Vancouver.
Toby moved to Kelowna in 1990 where he married Tait MacFarlane and raised a family. He spent 23 years as general manager of the South East Kelowna Irrigation District. Toby guided the district as it grew from a sleepy farming community into a busy residential area. He was respected for his ability to lead a public water utility through complex changes, always with the interests and well being of the community he served.
Toby served on the Kelowna Joint Water Committee, was a director with the Okanagan Basin Water Board and chaired the Water Supply Association of B.C. He was an articulate spokesperson with a wealth of knowledge about the history and importance of water governance in B.C.
A celebration of Toby’s life will be held in Kelowna at a later date. Details of the celebration will be posted on this website when available. You may also email [email protected] for more information.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask you to consider donating to B.C. Children’s Hospital or Ronald McDonald House in B.C.
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