February 21, 1929 - July 24, 2020
George Leslie Hamilton passed away quietly on July 24, 2020 at home in Courtenay, BC. He will be missed for his drive and energy in life and his commitment to family and community. George was always willing to step forward and help his family and community build towards the future.
George is predeceased by his brother Patrick, sister Donna, and loving wife Geraldine Theresa Hamilton. He is survived by his sons Jeffery (Sheryl), Neal (Coleen), and Paul (Emily), grandchildren from Jeff, Mackenzie, from Neal, Kenneth and Michael, and from Paul, David and Brandon.
As a 60 year member of Courtenay Rotary International Club lunch time club, he served in a multitude of positions, President, Vice President and as Head of the Foreign Exchange student program, and participated in many other club projects around the Comox Valley.
George served as the President of the Mount Becher Ski Society during the development of the first T-Bar lifts on the Forbidden Plateau Ski Hill.
Later he went on to become a first aid volunteer and a ski instructor on the ski hill.
The other sport that he loved was hockey, which he both played and participated in as a coach in the Men's Hockey league and youth hockey, which his son Paul was involved in.
George worked for the BC Provincial Government for 33 years in a multitude of positions. The majority of his career was spent as the Assessor for the BC Assessment Office and its predecessor, managing the office in Courtenay, which was responsible for assessing the north island and mainland coast above Powell River.
His second career began in 1980 when he retired from the civil service and entered the cranberry industry. He joined with his wife Geraldine and their two sons Jeff and Neal, to start a cranberry farm in the Campbell River area in 1980. Together three cranberry farms were built, which are still operating as family farms today.
George participated in local agriculture through the Farmers Institute and helped develop and implement programs for local agriculture. He went on to represent the district at the British Columbia Agricultural Council, where he served as a director and President of the Council and participated in implementing programs for agriculture across British Columbia.
We would like to thank Courtenay Medical Clinic and the Staff of the Comox General Hospital for their care of George in his last few years. Thank you to Comox Valley Funeral Home for their assistance with the arrangements.
Interment will be at a future date.