From office spaces to underwater worlds, Bernard (Bernie) Hanby brought humour, integrity, and purpose to every corner of his life.
Born in Blackpool, England, Bernie was captivated by Canada while on vacation with friends and immigrated to Toronto in the late 1950s. Soon after, the lure of the ocean and a lifelong love of fishing drew him to settle on the West Coast in Vancouver.
His fascination with the ocean intensified after taking up scuba diving in the 1970s. Bernie cared deeply about marine conservation, serving on the board of numerous conservation non-profits and with like-minded partners, formed Marine Life Sanctuaries Society of BC, which is still active after 30 years. He had a knack for underwater photography and co-authored Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest, a wildly popular guidebook released in 2005 still used by biologists, divers, and ocean lovers to learn more about creatures beneath the water’s surface.
Bernie was proud of his distinguished career in insurance. He specialized in liability claims, opened his own business, and enjoyed training the next generation of adjusters. He also treasured time with his wife, two daughters, grandchildren, and extended family, sharing his love of fishing with everyone along the way. Known for his jovial nature and genuine interest in people, Bernie inspired others with his actions.
Staying active and healthy was important to Bernie – he even spent his 80th birthday scuba diving! When he did require treatment for his kidneys at St. Paul’s Hospital, he was impressed with the kind, compassionate, and expert care he received. Bernie developed a strong bond with his care team and appreciated the custom protocols the renal team created for him based on his treatment objectives. He decided to honour the people who cared for him through a gift in his Will to St. Paul’s Foundation.
“He always spoke very highly of the team at St. Paul’s Hospital. They understood what his goal was and made sure that he had the tools to live life the way he wanted to,” says Lynn Wong, Bernie’s daughter.
"He had a real respect for the medical community and wanted to remember them in that way. It was important to him."
Lynn Wong, Bernie's daughter
We are so grateful that Bernie chose to include St. Paul’s Foundation as part of his final legacy. His kindness fills us with gratitude and inspires us to advance our work in enhancing patient care across Providence Health Care sites.
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