Tribute

1945, June 3 – 2025, October 25
Bruce Duncan Wallace

Bruce passed away peacefully, in Lady Minto Hospital, in the early morning of October 25th. He was 80 years old. He passed away from cardiovascular disease complicated by pneumonia. Sadly, Bruce’s husband, Scott Merrick, passed away 4 days before on Oct. 21st.

Bruce was born in Vancouver on June 3, 1945, where his father was stationed with the navy. After the war ended they moved back to their hometown, Edmonton AB, where Bruce grew up.

Bruce received a BSc from the University of Alberta with double majors in Entomology and Philosophy. When he was in his early 20’s he and his younger brother, Tim, bought matching Norton 650s motorcycles. They enjoyed happy times riding these together before Tim passed away in March 1972.

Bruce moved to Calgary where he worked at William Roper Hull Home as a child care counsellor, in cottage settings for adolescents with parental problems and court referrals. He met Waltraud (Wally) Kiel there and they married in December 1972. He also worked as a Social Worker with Alberta Mental Health before going back to school at S.A.I.T.(Southern Alberta Institute of Technology). He completed the Medical Laboratory Technology program and excelled in Microbiology. He worked at the Foothills Hospital until they both moved to Vancouver in 1980.

In Vancouver, Bruce worked at both the Metro Labs and St. Paul’s Hospital as a lab technician. In 1997 Bruce and Wally separated and Bruce met Scott. They lived and worked in Vancouver until 2005 when they both retired to Salt Spring.

In Salt Spring they both immersed themselves in this community. They set up a B&B called “Frog Hollow” and together worked hard at it for a few years. Bruce was involved in the Tai Chi community, hiked all over the Island with their beloved dog Tilley, practice yoga and meditation, supported Scott in his many years of radio and theatre, sold mini donuts at the farmers markets, explored his spirituality including the study and practice of Buddhist faith, often went to TJ’s for coffee either with Scott or by himself and loved dressing up in his usual fairy costume for the pride parade. Bruce and Scott married Dec. 26/2021.

After Bruce stopped driving, he still felt the need to go and visit Scott twice a day so he relied on many for rides. He got to know many SS senior center drivers, taxi drivers and the woman who drove the boaters’ bus, outside of Country Grocers. This became his limited contact with others for a long time. They enjoyed his kindness and appreciated talking with him. Although Bruce valued his solitary meditations he also loved connecting and talking to others and finding out what was happening on the island. Thank you all for being Bruce’s friends.

Bruce had been faithfully visiting Scott, in the hospital, twice a day, ever since Scott had been admitted to Lady Minto, battling cancer. During this time Bruce was fighting his own health issues quietly without complaining, always putting Scott’s needs before his own. Mental, physical & emotional exhaustion finally took its toll on Bruce’s body and he left us four days after Scott passed.

It seemed that Bruce’s broken heart finally gave him permission to let go, because Scott didn’t need him anymore. They are now both at peace, free from their pain. They had been together for 28 years.

Bruce never had children. His family consists of his sister Wendy, brother-in-law, Marcel, 2 nieces Roanna & Renee, 2 nephews Martin & Joseph & 6 great nieces and nephews. Also a part of his family were his former wife Wally & her husband Bob. We will all miss this quietly intelligent, kind & caring soul who was always seeking enlightenment.

Memories of visiting him include laughing, enjoying nature, singing, soaking up his enthusiasm for life on SS, his kindness and how he made all of us feel loved and welcome.

We thank many for helping Bruce over the last few months. Dr. Kalf and his staff, the case workers and social workers at Home and Community Health services, the staff at Lady Minto especially, the staff in the acute ward who looked after both Scott and Bruce.

We also thank his friends and neighbours who have been helping him and a special thank you to Hannah Brown and Dawn Luker, who have given so much of their time and support to Wendy, Scott and Bruce, especially over the last anxious months.

If anyone feels they would like to give donations, in memory of Bruce, we feel that he would have suggested the following: Taoist Tai Chi on S.S. Lady Minto Auxiliary Thrift Store, Lady Minto Foundation. Thank you!

Sincerely, Wendy (Bruce’s sister).