Art Cowie
I am honored to have know him and have worked with him
bringing this project to life. I will miss him.
otto lejeune
Below is a media release that was sent out on behalf
of Art Cowie's family
Art Cowie, a well known and popular public figure in Vancouver
passed away suddenly on Saturday November 21 at the age
of 75. A professional planner and landscape architect,
he served the citizens of Vancouver on the Park Board,
City Council and in the provincial legislature. Elected
as an MLA in 1991, he voluntarily gave up his seat in fall
1993 to allow Gordon Campbell to run provincially.
As founder of Eikos Inc. Mr. Cowie was an early proponent
of environmental planning, He worked on a wide range of
land use, environmental and urban design assignments throughout
British Columbia and in England, Scotland, Australia and
Nigeria.
He was widely known as an ideas person who promoted a
broad range of activities including innovative landscapes,
alternative forms of affordable housing, integration of
transit and development, and memorial park planning and
design.
His most recent venture, a new form of housing in Vancouver-individually
owned ‘fee simple’ row houses, is currently
under construction in Vancouver. After many years in the
planning and development stage, he and his wife Cathy were
preparing to move into one of the homes early in the new
year.
A prolific writer, Mr. Cowie’s articles were printed
in numerous professional publications. He was also the
author of Vancouver Hot Spots, (www.remembernow.com) a
website devoted to articles about development issues and
trends in Vancouver and the surrounding region.
“He will be missed by many friends in landscape
architecture, planning and political circles” said
Michael Geller a long time friend who first got to know
Mr. Cowie when he was a TEAM City Councillor in the early
1970’s.
Former City Councillor Gordon Price described him as one
of Vancouver’s Renaissance men – a landscape
architect, planner, and politician-from Park Commissioner
to MLA, developer, commentator, and writer – and
always with a passion.
Another long time friend Bob Ransford had this to say
upon learning of his death. “Art's ideas were vital,
his interests many and diverse and his persistence admirable.
Art was motivated entirely by a desire to do good, to be
innovative and to serve because he cared about this place
we call our community."
Mr. Cowie leaves behind his wife Cathy, daughters Lisa
and Sharon, step-daughter Corrie and their families.
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