It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Richard Bridge. Richard was born in Cheltenham, England on March 13, 1942. Richard moved to Canada in pursuit of his dream of having a fruit farm in the wilderness.
The beautiful farm that he and Irene and their children built in Sunshine Bay is a living testament to their vision and incredible work ethic. Central to Richard's legacy is the West Arm Park which has protected Nelson's watershed by transforming it into a Class A provincial park.
Richard was extremely fond of his children Christopher and Gwen.
He is survived by his younger brother Robert, wife Pam, and a younger sister Gillian Hall, husband Len. He is also survived by his cousin Gina Douglas, who was like a sister to him. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Irene. He leaves behind daughter Gwen, her husband Jyrki, and their kids Axel, Anna, August, and Magnus, son Christopher and his kids, Quinlan, Ariel, Alice, and Mila.
A celebration of Richard's life will be held at a later date which will be announced after social gatherings are recommenced.
Richard loved his farm and his excellence as a farmer was reflected in the numerous varieties of apples that he nurtured and maintained. Walking with him through his orchard in the fall was an experience that his friends treasured, ending up with bags of heritage apples and more details about fruit than they would likely remember. He took great delight in his visitors' appreciation of the bounty he produced. We took great delight in his enthusiasm, generosity, and specialized knowledge
Richard was a spiritually committed environmentalist. The West Arm Park which he championed relentlessly protects Nelson's watershed in perpetuity. We can all be grateful that Richard lived among us.