At Bulkley Valley Christian School we are saddened by the death of John Vandermeer. John passed away peacefully at home on January 1, 2026. He was 92 years old.
Together with his wife Pat, John was a great supporter of BVCS. His membership began as a young man, before he was even married, when a school representative was drumming up memberships ($5/year). John was a faithful member of the school society ever since.
His participation in BVCS went far beyond membership: John loved to have tools in his hand and he used his construction gifts in a way that was instrumental to the construction of our first campus (now the site of the Smithers Christian Reformed Church). John spent many Saturdays and weekday evenings building, painting and fixing wherever it was needed. He took pride in his work. When John and Pat weren’t serving in some way (church, school, community volunteering), you could find them outside in their garden or fishing throughout BC’s north.
John served one term on the BVCS board—but he preferred helping out with tools, so he kept his board service to one term. He was proud to be a BVCS parent and, later, a BVCS grandparent. For decades John was a familiar face in and around BVCS, and his warm handshake, boisterous laugh, sincere smile and great sense of humour will be missed.
John held firmly to his hope and assurance in Jesus Christ. He exemplified quiet contentment in God’s provision, faithfully serving his family and community wherever God placed him.
We join Pat and their family both in grieving the absence that John leaves behind and in celebrating John’s life and consummation of his eternal hope in Jesus Christ.