Brij Berry was one of those individuals you had to meet to believe. We had a friend once travel through Prince George and based on the stories we had told, he was curious about my father and wanted to meet him. After the customary introductions he was ushered into Brij’s office where he felt mildly threatened by the defensive squawking of an African grey parrot called Mickey, whom Brij was caring for while Mickey’s human family was travelling. Brij soothed the parrot by giving him half a digestive biscuit and talking to him gently. “I’m the only one he likes while his family is away,” Brij commented, “I stopped cutting my hair to resemble one of his species, in an effort to make him feel at home.” The friend reflected that indeed, Brij’s hair resembled that of a cockatoo. The bird did a small shuffle and clicked his tongue.

My friend sat at the desk facing a wall full of books and after Brij had returned with the tea and cookies he sat is his chair, smiled and said “what would you like to discuss?”

This was because for the entirety of our family’s memory and experience of Brij was that at pretty much any time, and anyone could sit down with him and have a conversation, discussion, story and maybe even a lecture on practically any topic. It wasn’t just that Brij was educated. He had five degrees from four countries. He had travelled within every continent except Antarctica which he only regretted because he loved penguins, but thought it would be too cold. His recall of what he had read, observed, experienced and felt, his recall of his students, colleagues and parents was not only remarkable in itself, it refined his innate gift for storytelling, counselling and teaching.

Brij’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to his friends and students in Prince George for caring, entertaining and feeding him and creating a community and a home for him. We also express our deepest admiration and respect for all health care workers and special thanks to those who tended to Brij in this last year of his wonderful, colourful and rewarding life.

Here is a link to the documentary “Mr. Berry”  about his lifelong commitment to tea and teaching.