Don Johnson - Port Alberni Honouree

2021 IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's

Don Johnson lived in Port Alberni for 65 years and in that time, was a lot of things to a lot of different people. He was a logger, carpenter and later an attendant for the City of Port Alberni. He was a lifelong hockey player and coach to his kids’ hockey, baseball and lacrosse teams. He was their guide on fishing trips and a mainstay in the annual fishing derby. He was a supportive and loving husband and father, always ready with a one-liner. And when he became a grandfather, Don was on call any time day or night to come pick up his fussy newborn grandson and walk with him for hours to let his daughter get some rest.

Don’s family started to notice him repeating himself and it wasn’t long before he was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s.
“It was awful,” says his daughter Jill. “It was so sad and scary when he was diagnosed because he was our person. Our person when it was snowing: he would come drive us. Our person when the bathroom wasn’t working. Our person when we needed someone to paint. He was always there. He was amazing.”

Don passed away in 2017, just days after his 66th birthday.

Don’s dedication and skills were shared beyond his family. He had deep roots in the community and was generous with so many.
“He was always the first to go help anyone,” Jill says. “Even though he grumbled about it, he wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Don’s wife Denise, daughter Jill and sons Trevor and Eric connected with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. for support and education. In Don’s honour, they have raised funds at the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s to provide resources for other people affected by dementia. To them, and all the other daughters out there taking care of their dads, Jill says: “Spend as much time as you can with them, even if it’s hard."

Join Don's family this May for the Port Alberni IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's. Together, we make memories matter.