The British Columbia Choral Federation is saddened to announce the recent passing of two former board members, Dick Hibberd (Powell River) and Sue Milne (Gibsons), and wishes to offer its warm condolences to their families.

Dick Hibberd passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 26, a few weeks shy of his 91st birthday and 67th wedding anniversary. In a public Facebook post shared widely throughout his community of Powell River, his daughter Wendy wrote:
“We will miss our dad, brother, uncle, grandpa and great grandpa. We will always be grateful for his teaching us the importance of family, friends, education in all forms and humanity. His love for his family created and shared with his wife, my mom, Joy, is also a legacy he leaves behind. I have often felt that my father represented the best qualities to be found in people. He enjoyed a good discussion, a laugh, was a willing listener and loved to encourage others to reach the best in themselves. His accomplishments and contributions to the areas of education and music, both locally and internationally, are numerous.”
In 1956, Dick was a founding member of the Powell River Choral Society, now the Powell River Chorus, and remained an active charter member until 2013. He was also a director of Powell River Academy of Music Academy and on the organizing committee for the Kathaumixw International Choral Festival. As recently as 2004, he served on the British Columbia Choral Federation board as the representative for Upper Sunshine Coast.

Sue Milne passed away peacefully on September 28, 2017 at her home in Gibsons, BC. She is survived by her husband, John, her sister, Lynne McEneany, her brother, Allan Jackson (Wendy), her son Chris (Liz), her daughters Alex and Margie (Ben). She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Annabelle and Liam Beacock, Kalina and Natascha Milne. Sue was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario where she met and married John in 1965. They travelled to Germany where Sue worked and studied chemistry in Stuttgart. Upon moving to Ottawa, Ontario in 1967, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Carleton University and subsequently worked as a German/English translator and as a grants officer for the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council. Sue and John loved to travel and over the years made trips to India and numerous locations in Europe. Sue retired to the Sunshine Coast in 1999 where she became heavily involved in the music community, volunteering on several boards – including the BCCF – and singing in various choirs. She will be remembered for her smile and contagious laughter, as well as for her outgoing personality and endless generosity. Her two successors as Lower Sunshine Coast representative on the BCCF board, Joanne Mauro and Susan Ferguson, fondly remember the support she offered them in their transition.