Tribute

Robin was born on June 19, 1939 in Moncton New Brunswick to Maud and Vern Irving, (deceased) of Shediac Cape, New Brunswick.

Robin achieved a BA (Hon) in Philosophy, an MA in medieval French, a teaching certificate from the Ontario College of Education and a D. Juris from Osgood Hall Law School. She was an ESL teacher both in Toronto and in Vancouver where she also practised as a lawyer, specializing in Urban Law. She helped save Vancouver’s Chinatown from urban development and wrote the Strata Titles Act for the NDP government.

In 1973 she bought a house on Salt Spring and quickly became a full time resident enjoying boating, camping, gardening and eventually kayaking. In 1980 she and Anne (Zeller) became lifelong partners, and they were able to marry in 2006. During that quarter century she travelled to 6 continents with Anne as valuable support to Anne’s primatological research. She also became a real estate agent and property developer during the months, each year, she spent in Ontario.

Robin was very fond of all animals and often took the dog kayaking on weeks long trips in a specially designed spray deck. She kayaked in the Florida everglades, the Baja Peninsula, the Broken group and in local coastal waters. She loved to sail her racing catamaran as well as taking the small motor boat up the inside passage to Kingcome, Toba, Princess Louisa Inlet and many other places. Her last 4 years were spent in Lady Minto Extended Care where she was very well cared for. Thanks to the staff there and to Dr. Gummeson for all their support and kindness to her.

She was an adventurous soul, kind, generous, humerous, enthusiastic and will be missed by her many friends and her partner of 42 years.

If you wish to commemorate her, a donation to Lady Minto or to the SPCA would be very welcome.