MIKE JIGGINS
He was brave and bold and sharp as a tack.
He was gentle and kind and loved a good laugh.
Michael Frederick Jiggins was born
September 9, 1933 and he died July 10, 2014
at the age of 80, surrounded by family.
Mike was a King Scout in England at age 18 and soon became a certified Master Joiner.
He married his best friend Joan on August 29, 1953 and the two sailed from England to Ellis Island, New York.
They traveled by train to Montreal and then Calgary where they settled.
Chris, Susan and Kim were born in that city and the family was joined by Mike’s parents Fred and Mabel from England.
They moved to the Kootenays to purchase and operate the Skookum Inn in Windermere before moving the family to Victoria in 1960.
The family expanded to include Angie and Pat.
Mike worked with Cubbon’s and Doman’s before establishing his own venture, Shawnigan Building Supplies, with a store in Victoria and in Sooke.
He became the President of the B.C. Building Supply Dealers Association and the President of Canadian Building Supply Dealers Association.
The family moved to Parksville in 1972.
There, Mike expanded the French Creek Resort, which they renamed Camelot.
He later took over and greatly expanded Arranglen Lodge Long Term Care Facility in North Qualicum and became the President of the B.C. Association of Private Care.
Mike was always interested in politics and became an area director at the Regional District of Nanaimo and was also the board chair.
He designed and built Paradise Sea Side Resort in Parksville and also designed and built Arrowsmith Golf & Country Club in North Qualicum.
Mike and Joan employed a few thousand people in the 60 years they have been in business, receiving many community awards and accolades along the way.
Every one of their five children, their spouses and many of their grandchildren have worked with Mike and Joan in realizing their dreams.
Those dreams became their own and they have raised their own families in the midst of it, and the legacy of building families and building businesses has endured.
Mike celebrated 60 years of marriage to the love of his life Joan last August 29.
Mike will be missed dearly by his wife and children: Chris; Susan and her husband Joseph; Kim and his wife Kelly; Angie; Pat and his wife Trina.
His many grandchildren, who he encouraged greatly and who he gave many handfuls of smarties over the years, will always cherish the time they had with Grandad.
He will also be missed by many others who considered him to be their Dad or their Grandad.
GG also had a plethora of great-grandchildren who he greatly cherished.
Mike’s sparkling blue eyes lit up every time he greeted family at gatherings and his winning smile was contagious. His favourite film was Student Prince, his most treasured vocalist was Mario Lanza, and his hero, Winston Churchill.
He loved war history books, British comedies, Hermann’s Dark Lager and he was very fond of all his dogs, including Lacy the Pom, which he leaves behind, as well as Magnolia the Jack Russell. He was an avid golfer and was also a world croquet champion, a title he took with his son Kim, in a sport he enjoyed with many family and friends.
Our thanks and appreciation to the doctors and nurses of NRGH and RJH for all their care and attention in Mike’s last days.
A Celebration of Life is to be held at Arrowsmith Golf & Country Club
on Friday, July 25 at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please honour Mike’s memory with a donation to the B.C. Cancer Foundation.