Daniel Sidney Harmer

Daniel (Dan) Sidney Harmer died on July 10, 2023, at Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver, at the age of 86. Born at Rackheath, Norfolk, England on October 15, 1936, he was the youngest of three children to Russell and Daphne Harmer. He attended school in England and studied engineering with EMI Ltd., attending London University. Dan graduated with a B.Sc., and a Full Technological Certificate, later becoming a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. In 1960, he came to Halifax, Canada, where he met his future bride, Jacqueline (née Moore), and was married in 1962. They had three sons, Stephen (1963), Philip (1965-1966), and Colin (1966). He retired in 1995 and moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 2000. He leaves behind two sons, Stephen (Marja), Colin (Rhonda), one grandson, Tomas (2003), one granddaughter, Katrina (2005), and nieces and nephews across Europe and the USA.

In Canada, he worked as an electrical engineer for 10 years and then changed careers to become the Director of the Atlantic Provinces Special Education’s Sir Frederick Fraser School. He led the change in direction for the education of the blind and visually impaired children across Atlantic Canada. Dan and his colleagues believed that the education of the blind should be delivered outside a boarding school environment. His actions allowed visually impaired students to be educated in their home communities, allowing the school to refocus their efforts to serve children with additional problems besides blindness. He obtained his Masters of Education Degree in 1985 at Dalhousie University, Halifax.

Dan enjoyed sailing and volunteering with Scouts Canada, and was also a member of nine choirs over a period of 40 years. In Vancouver he played recorder and piano, and enjoyed self study in language, computers, and mathematics. In his final years, he most enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, Tomas and Katrina.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 11th, at 1 PM, at First Memorial Funeral Services, 1505 Lillooet Road, North Vancouver.

Please, no flowers: donations to Lions Gate Hospital or CNIB would be preferred.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialnorthvancouver.com for the Harmer family.