It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Catherine (Cathy) Aitchison on February 17^th 2022.

Cathy was the only child of Matthew and Marjorie Aitchison of Winchester, Ontario.

At the age of eighteen, Cathy left Winchester and studied Fashion Design in Chicago. Later she moved to London, England where she worked in Graphic Design. She also worked for Thomas Cook, and travelled for five years. Cathy then moved to Vancouver and worked for the Australian Consulate. She eventually created her own business as a Professional Dressmaker and taught sewing at night school. To complement her work, Cathy became involved with the local Sewing and Knitting groups where she gained many friends.

Earlier on, Cathy had been interested in genealogy and with her penchant for getting things done, she both designed and edited the quarterly publication of the B.C. Genealogical Society.

Her other passion which came later in life, was Nature and birds. She led birding trips in Stanley Park and participated in breeding bird and other surveys for the Canadian Wildlife Service and Nature Vancouver. She was a long time member of Nature Vancouver and edited The Birders Guide to Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. In 1996, Cathy received the Kaye and Charles Ney Award for Exemplary Service to Nature Vancouver.  

Cathy’s love of travel and Nature led her to many countries around the world with like minded people and to add to her extensive list of bird species.

Cathy will be missed by her special friends George Bangham and Brian Porter along with her friends from the Nature and Sewing / Knitting groups.

Many thanks to the staff at Parkview Health Unit and Mt. St. Josephs Hospital, under Providence Health, for their exceptional care for Cathy during her last few months.

No memorial service is planned at this time.