Dr. Ian Edward Housego

On Monday, May 19, 2025, Dr. Ian Housego passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones. He had long wished to join his wife, Billie, but stayed as long as he could out of compassion, the bedrock of his character.

Ian was born in 1931, to Matle Heron and Edward Housego. He had one elder sister, Vivian, who passed away in 2022. Growing up in Pennant, Saskatchewan, Ian’s personality was shaped by witnessing the effects of the Great Depression and World War II. He was deeply affected by the beauty, poignancy, and hardships of small-town prairie existence, as depicted in W.O. Mitchell’s “Who Has Seen the Wind”, which Ian referred to as “the story of my life”.

Ian and his father saved money so he could attend university, with the goal of becoming a lawyer. After just one year at the University of Winnipeg, nineteen-year-old Ian received the devastating news that his father had died of a heart attack. Village elders counseled him to attend “normal school” and obtain a teaching certificate. Ian never looked back, for teaching was his true calling. He said his father’s death felt like the end of the world, but as he rebuilt his life, he discovered a new path.

He swiftly rose in the ranks to become a principal, then pursuing graduate work at the University of Alberta and the University of London. His journey from the Canadian prairies to England, with a stopover in New York to hear Ella Fitzgerald, was the stuff of Housego family legend. He obtained his doctorate in Education Administration and worked as a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, before taking a position at the University of British Columbia, where he remained for the rest of his career.

Another celebrated piece of Housego lore concerned the star-crossed meeting of Ian and fellow graduate student Billie McBride at the University of Alberta. After dancing the night away at the “Pembina Prance”, the newly forged power couple continued on in leadership roles, providing counselling and academic guidance, not to mention sartorial inspiration, to all under their care. They were married in 1964, and honeymooned in San Francisco, their love story becoming another jewel in the firmament of that fabled city’s romantic history.

Ian and Billie spent decades teaching, supervising students, doing research and championing public education. Many were the convivial gatherings of like-minded educators at their Vancouver Special on West 8th Avenue. They had one daughter, Joellen, whom they cherished. She followed in her parents’ footsteps, becoming a teacher, and marrying Timo Salonen, a kind and compassionate person like her father. Ian is also survived by his prairie relatives, nieces Pat (Mac), Sandy (Shane), Judy (Ed), nephew Rob (Cathy) and their extended family, as well as Billie’s nephews Mike (Delora) and Brian (Cathy), and their children. He treasured his relationships with his late niece Nancy Meikle, and Billie’s late sister, Vivian Pall.

After Ian retired in 1994, he did years of volunteer work at the Vancouver School of Theology, and in the Downtown Eastside at First United Church. He was an open-minded, gentle, courageous Christian, who advocated for all to be treated with dignity and respect, and understood the effects of trauma. He had faith in the resilience of the human spirit and rejoiced in the empowerment of the marginalized. Ian firmly believed there was a moral structure to the universe, and an all-embracing source of love and justice.

In his spare time, Ian loved to read, and joined a book club that met regularly. He and Billie were active in the Brock House Society, helping to organize lectures. Ian could also be found enjoying an almond croissant and the newspaper at Terra Breads on 4th Avenue. He always kept abreast of world affairs, and curated articles from various news outlets for a fortunate group of friends.

At the age of 91, Ian had a stroke. He spent many months recovering, with Billie as his faithful caregiver. He exercised outdoors with his walker, Billie on one side, Joellen on the other, and Timo pushing a wheelchair behind. In May 2024, Billie passed away unexpectedly, which was a terrible blow. Joellen and Timo moved in with Ian. The grieving family was blessed by the arrival of a gifted, dedicated team of caregivers, who looked after Ian as if he had been their own relative. Profound gratitude is due to Mario, Vijay and Sam, as well as Aman, Amrit, Nika, Maribeth, Victor, Gautham and many others. Although he was ill and grieving, they helped Ian feel safe and comfortable, made him smile and laugh, and ensured he was able to vote in our recent federal election to protect the country he loved, and the values he believed in. Timo and Joellen also wish to thank Reverend Nam Ok Yoo, the West Point Grey United Church community, and all of Ian’s dear friends who surrounded him with support.

Ian was renowned for his sense of humour, as much as for his erudition and empathy. He collected Peanuts comics, discussed Charlie Brown and Snoopy in his lectures, and watched the Muppet Show religiously. He joked around to the end, even when he was too tired to speak, raising an eyebrow with impeccable timing.

Humour was the other side of the coin for Ian, who sometimes quoted Wordsworth: “The world is too much with us, late and soon...”. However, he recited this line from Wordsworth more frequently: “…and then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils.”

The son of a highland dancer, Ian identified deeply with his Scottish heritage and was highly sensitive to music and poetry, so it is fitting to close with Robbie Burns.

“An honest man here lies at rest, as e’er God with His image blest.”

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday July 12, at West Point Grey United Church (4595 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver BC). Condolences may left below.

Donations may be made in Ian’s name to First United Church: https://firstunited.ca/donate-now