Gordon Priest

Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on March 24, 2014. Survived by his beloved wife of 55 ½ years to the day, Barbara Joan Priest (nee Richardson). Loving father to daughters, Vicki Comeau (Phil) of Carleton Place, Ontario and Valerie of St. Lazare, Quebec. Grandfather to Julia Karrandjas (Nicholas) of Carleton Place, Ontario, Bernard (Lisa) Priest- Blais of Montreal, Quebec, Nikki Priest- Blais of St. Lazare, Quebec. Great- grandfather of Max Karrandjas of Carleton Place, Ontario. Survived by his brother, Robert Thomas Priest (Patricia) of Squamish, B.C. Gordon will be fondly remembered by his many cousins, nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces and great, great nephews and nieces. Predeceased by his parents Walter James Priest and Margaret Alice Priest (nee Griffin) of Vancouver, B.C., his sister, Mary Oman of Calgary, Alberta, nephew, Colin Priest of Pemberton, B.C. and niece Susan Oman of Calgary, Alberta.

Raised in Port Coquitlam, B.C., he graduated from Moody High School in 1955 and Simon Fraser University (B.A. 1969, M.A. 1970). He then worked for seven years in retail and construction trades, eight years for School District #43 (Coquitlam) and 28 years for Statistics Canada. Gordon represented Canada at the Conference of European Statisticians, Eurostat, the World Health Organization, the International Household Survey Network, the U.S. Bureau of Census, the State Statistical Bureau of the People's Republic of China and the Census of the United Kingdom.

Gordon did volunteer work with the United Church of Canada youth programs, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (including eight years on the national board of directors), Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization and Carleton Condominium Corporation # 497.

His passions included first and foremost, his family, followed by his work at Statistics Canada, particularly, Canadian Social Trends, the census, household surveys and the international standardization, harmonization and integration of statistical data, travelling with his wife, Barbara, time spent with the family, cats and fellowship with friends of the Kettle Valle Railway Operating Society.

His regrets include the inability of the federal and provincial governments to develop electronic health records to improve both patient care and facilitate epidemiological studies, the recent devaluation of the Canadian census and other statistical programs as well as the recent restrictions placed on the work of scientists employed by the federal government.

Special thanks to Kathy with CCAC, St. Elizabeth nurses; Jody, Suzanne, Kristina and Mimi as well as nurses from We Care and Bayshore for their excellent care of Gordon.

Friends and family may call at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Road (between Bayshore and Baseline Road) on Friday, March 28, 2014 from 1-3 p.m. A Celebration of Gordon's life will be held in the chapel at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada or the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.