Our country has lost a great Canadian in Arthur Erickson. He leaves
an inspiring legacy of excellence, creativity and commitment to the field of
architecture, both in Canada and abroad. I am certain that he will be greatly
missed by all those whose lives he touched.

Governor General Michaëlle Jean

From you Arthur I learned so much. In the beginning of our
work at Robson Square I presented you with an architectural
plan for the planterboxes at the courthouse, namely, Taxus
media Hicksii (Yew). You took one look at my drawing and
said gently, "But Cornelia there are many greens". What did
Arthur mean? This comment started my mind spinning in the
right direction. Your comment will never be forgotten. Thus I
sing an ode to 35 years of collaboration with you Arthur. I will
miss you. With every step I take at the Museum of
Anthropology I think of you.

~ Cornelia Oberlander

     Carving out a role as public intellectual that
few architects risk, Erickson constantly called for
better designs from his peers, and for Vancouver
to make the investments in transportation, hous-
ing, and institutions befitting its inevitable fate
as a world city. His pronouncements doubtlessly
scared away clients and cost him financially,
but their legacy has galvanized Vancouver and
provided a template for architects everywhere
struggling to reconcile form-making, city-building,
and living with nature.
     One has to go all the way back to Daniel
Burnham's shaping of Chicago to find another
North American architect who so dominated a
large city's architectural culture. Like Burnham,
Erickson was celebrated both for his techni-
cally innovative and elegant buildings and his
progressive urban ideals and schemes. Many
regard Erickson as the intellectual author of
"Vancouverism" - an approach to city building
chracterized by developments that are high-
density, high-amenity, socially inclusive, and
respectful of nature.

Trevor Boddy

I was Arthur's secretary in the mid-70's when I was way too young and
way too inexperienced to handle such an assignment, but Arthur was
kind to me, patient, willing to let me learn. His work was then and is still
an inspiration, a celebration of light and joy, and I have always felt
privileged and damn lucky to have worked for him. Regards and rest in
peace.

Darla Stipanovich

He was a great teacher, full of worldly wisdom,
and had a tremendous influence on us.
He never said no, for example, and would instead raise a question.
Often he would respond to questions by saying nothing at all.
In architectural terms that usually meant, "Back to the drawing board."

Geoffrey Erickson

I had the privilege to experience Arthur as my teacher as
I began my studies in Architecture at UBC. He began by
teaching us "how to learn". His approach took the form of
questions, creating a cascade effect of questioning until one
understood the essence of the problem and the path to its
solution. Even the titles of assigned problems inspired
question, for example; "motion in nature", "seven stones",
"object to support the human body", "space for
contemplation", "a space and a meal". His pedagogical beliefs
and lessons have left a legacy within me and I in turn have
found teachers and schools for my children who share such
values in education. Thank you Arthur.

~ Tanya Hahn Dorsey

He was ahead of his time which is why he was not properly recognized. He
has created architecture of the earth out of the earth, and he has done it
with extraordinary humanity.

Phyllis Lambert