Shortly after midnight, the morning of March 18, Oak Bay lost a dedicated volunteer.

Bob Carter died in hospice at the age of 90.

B次元官网网址淭he perfect Irishman he got through St. PaddyB次元官网网址檚 Day,B次元官网网址� said friend Illarion Gallant. B次元官网网址淗e knew it was important.B次元官网网址�

Carter was known in the community for decades of volunteer work with the local volunteer association and CNIB.

B次元官网网址淏ob Carter left a beautiful legacy at Oak Bay Volunteer Services and the community of Oak Bay,B次元官网网址� said Renee Lorm茅-Gulbrandsen, executive director of OBVS. B次元官网网址淗aving volunteered with OBVS for nearly 30 years, BobB次元官网网址檚 commitment to the community was evident in the countless hours of companionship and services provided to our clients, as well as the many volunteer hours spent providing administrative support to the organization, including his participation on our envelope stuffing team in his later years. BobB次元官网网址檚 friendly smile and engaging conversation will be missed by many at Oak Bay Volunteers.B次元官网网址�

He was awarded an Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work with CNIB, notes Mayor Nils Jensen who visited Carter the day before he died.

B次元官网网址淗e was such a wonderful man, gentle, kind, unassuming and he really had a sense of wanting to contribute and add to the community. He was a volunteer, he helped out wherever he could,B次元官网网址� Jensen said. B次元官网网址淗e lived a full and fulsome life and contributed wherever he went. It was an honour to know him.B次元官网网址�

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The CNIB (formerly Canadian National Institute for the Blind) office on Richmond Road has a library named Carter-Ainsworth in tribute to Carter and his partner of 50 years Frank Ainsworth. Ainsworth continues to live in their Oak Bay home, dealing with health issues of his own.

The weather drew them to Oak Bay from Toronto about 30 years ago. They moved in July, and by November both were signed up with Oak Bay Volunteer Services.

Gallant B次元官网网址渋nheritedB次元官网网址� the family friend when he moved to B.C.

B次元官网网址淗e was second in command in elections Ontario and my father was in advertising. They were bad boys. They were Toronto business guys and they would go for afternoon scotches. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how they did business back in the day,B次元官网网址� Gallant said. The two artists shared a mindset.

B次元官网网址淲hat I really appreciated about him was his sense of community and the importance of making his contribution,B次元官网网址� Gallant agreed. B次元官网网址淗e really respected and believed in civic life, he believed in community and respected Nils and council.B次元官网网址�

Jensen recalls a day Carter came with an oak leaf. Carter approached Oak Bay with the idea of a stainless steel oak leaf design that could be engraved with a message for the recipient. After searching heB次元官网网址檇 found the perfect one to work with artist Gallant and craft the oak leaf shaped memento for the district.

B次元官网网址淗e donated them out of the kindness of his heart because he felt Oak Bay should have something to recognize special efforts and special occasions,B次元官网网址� Jensen said. B次元官网网址淭hose are the kinds of things Bob would do for people.B次元官网网址�

You wonB次元官网网址檛 find an obituary or service for the self-made, altruistic, well-read and cultured man, Gallant said. It isnB次元官网网址檛 what he wanted.

B次元官网网址淗e was 90 and he had a good life and I think he was ready.B次元官网网址�