Tribute

Bergen Charles Nixon, beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher, musician, and friend, passed away on September 15, 2026, after a long illness.

Bergen was born on September 7, 1941, in St. Catharines, Ontario, to Bergen Joseph Nixon and Myrtle Kathleen Nixon. He earned a B.Ed. at Buffalo State University and an M.Ed. at the University of Victoria. He was teaching in St. Catharines when he decided to make traveling across Canada his centennial celebration, coming first to B.C. in 1967. He eventually made his home in the Cowichan Valley, where he built a long career as a teacher with the Cowichan Valley School District, teaching generations of students at Cowichan Secondary School and Bonner Middle School.

Music was one of the great joys of Bergen’s life. He played the accordion from a young age and continued throughout his life, sharing his love of music with family, friends, and the community. He was a member of the Electric Ceilidh Band and shared his love of music with family, friends, and the community. He also greatly enjoyed Scottish country dancing and oldtime sequence dancing with his wife, Mary.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary; his daughter, Hilary, and her partner, Jason; and his grandchildren, Cameron and Darwin. He took great pride in his family and was deeply loved in return.

Bergen will be remembered for his warmth, his music, his dedication to teaching, and the joy he found in sharing life with the people around him.

The family is profoundly grateful to the entire staff at Sunridge Place Seniors Community for the kindness, compassion, and loving care they gave Bergen over the past four and a half years.