MEMORIAL SITE

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death on October 21, 2026 of Derek Gibson Graham in his 82nd year. He leaves a big hole in the hearts of his wife of 57 years and business partner Alexandra (nee Street), daughter Meghan (Stephen), son Nicholas (Tracey), grandchildren Ace, Daniel, Rebecca, Sara, Mike, Haley, Nick and Hunter.

Derek was born in Toronto to Alda Isabella Graham (nee Gibson) of Toronto and Dr. Albert Ronald Graham of Red Deer, Alberta. He was raised in Toronto and Ottawa.

Derek and Alex moved to Elora from Toronto in 1974 and set about gutting and renovating their house at 220 Smith Street. The family grew and became involved in many community organizations and activities. Derek was always interested in municipal politics and was on Elora Council for several years in the 1980s. He was Past President of Fergus-Elora Big Brothers and the Fergus-Elora Rotary Club and served as District 7080 Chair of the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships. The family enjoyed hosting many overseas scholars during that time. He enjoyed lawn bowling and curling in his spare time.

Because Alex ran out of gardening space, in 1995 the family moved to a small hobby farm in “North Aboyne” (as Derek referred to it). Since he was a child Derek wanted to keep farm animals, so now was his opportunity to keep cows, horses, geese and chickens, and also to gut and renovate yet another house. Many families have enjoyed interacting with our horses while walking along the trail that bounds our property. Derek acted as a super salesman finding homes for pups when Alex launched her golden retriever breeding enterprise in 2000.

Derek was commissioned as an Ontario Land Surveyor in 1971. He was immensely proud of his craft. His passion for surveying spilled over into Meghan’s and Nicholas’ lives and Meghan remembers her teenage summer holidays helping her dad “in the field,” surveying and searching title.

Derek always seized the opportunity to tell people the historical significance of his forebears’ contribution to the practice of surveying in the development of Canada, and was proud to emulate the determination, tenacity and pioneering spirit of his great, great grandfather, David Gibson.

David Gibson articled to a surveyor in 1820 in a small Scottish rural area near Glamis Castle. Having mastered the mathematical skills required and the extraordinary penmanship that he would need in later life in Upper Canada, he left Scotland and headed to York County where he met his wife, Eliza Milne. David owned property in Elora where he carried on his survey practice when Wellington County was being rapidly developed and opened up. David received instructions throughout his life from the Crown as the surveyor of highways in the Home District and other Districts in Upper Canada.

David and Eliza’s house, ‘Gibson House’, circa 1851, is still standing in its original location at 5172 Yonge Street, Toronto, and is designated as a building of historical significance. The land for the Novatel Hotel Complex to the south stands on the original Gibson farmland.

During the Rebellion of 1837 in Upper Canada, David Gibson was one of the two right hand cohorts of William Lyon Mackenzie. When the Rebellion met with a disquieting non-success, David, who had a 500 pound sterling reward on his head, had to quickly leave Canada for a period of time and worked on the Erie Canal where he was employed as an engineer. William Lount, the other cohort, was, according to ‘family’ lore, not as fit a runner and, unfortunately for him, was hanged. During the time the “Rebels” (that era’s Freedom Fighters) were being excoriated by the Family Compact, David’s original house was burned. While working on the Erie Canal, his letters to his wife indicated with great detail how the present base for the Gibson House ‘new’ house was to be built with lists of materials carefully catalogued.

David came back to Canada, having been pardoned in 1843. He returned to his farm and was hired as a provincial land surveyor. In 1853 he was given the post of inspector of Crown lands agencies and superintendent of colonization roads in Canada West. During that time he surveyed many town sites, townships and roads. Three areas in Wellington County we know he surveyed are in Puslinch, where he surveyed the Ellis Chapel located between Cambridge and Kitchener, the Arkell settlement and the Elora Road between Alma and Teviotdale.

Like David Gibson, Derek and Alex ventured into Wellington County, and in 1979 formed the firm of Derek G. Graham Limited. He practiced there until his retirement at the end of 2024. His firm followed David Gibson’s work and legacy, finding amazing accuracy when comparing David’s work to today’s modern day standards.

Derek has been buried next to his grandparents in the family plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, in a private ceremony for family. A celebration of his life will be held at the Fergus Legion on Sunday, November 29, 2026 from 2-4pm. Our thanks go to the doctors and staff at Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus and St. Joseph’s Health Care Centre in Guelph. Donations are appreciated in Derek’s name to Aboyne Rural Hospice and Groves Memorial Hospital.

“Mourn not the absence of the flame – let us celebrate how brightly it burned” Author unknown.

Tribute Wall

In memory of a long friendship, we will miss you
Daphne and Robin

Dear Alex and family, I am sorry for your loss. Our committee that organized the landscaping of the old Wellington Terrace was very fortunate that Derek undertook the survey for the gardens. We would have been stranded without his assistance.
Annerose Schmidt

Alex & family Derek & I met through the old Registry Office on Douglas St in Guelph over the years many conversations were shared I always enjoyed his visits to the R.O.
Sandra Mercer

My Condolences to the family as well
Charles Rogers

Dear Alex and family, So sorry to hear of Derek's passing. I remember that you and Derek were among the first people that we met (at curling, I believe) after moving to Elora in 1974.....the same year that you both made the move from Toronto. Just wanting to let you know that even though our paths have not crossed for quite some time, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time. Sincerely, Linda Scott
Linda Scott

Whenever one was called to look at a cattle beast or other animal that Derek presided over at the North Boyne farm, you had to set some time aside. Derek loved to share the historical and political context to almost any topic and did so with such wry wit and passion. We strangely shared a bit of history as my great, great Uncle William Alves was the other right hand man of William Lyon MacKenzie in the Upper Canada Rebellion, alongside Derek's great great grandfather. Our thoughts are with Alex and the family at this time.
David and Barb Alves

I was very saddened to read the news of Derek's passing yesterday. Sarah and I recalled many of the conversations we have had with Derek over the past decades, often challenging but always with the insistence of finding the answer. Surveying was Derek's calling, and each call took you down a path you may not have anticipated. He will be missed. Our thoughts are with Alex and the family. Sarah Cornett, OLS (Ret) W. Bruce Clark, OLS
W. Bruce Clark

Derek and Alex and their family were among the first to welcome Janet and me in our time in Elora. They were generous in their support of our family, helping us settle in town and introducing us to others who would help in the establishment of our business. Derek had a great sense of humour, and a sharp wit. Thankful to have known him and grateful for his family.
Andrew Johnson

Derek, and surveyors like him, were the reason I got into surveying. Independent minded, intent on finding the right answer, and willing to use his skills to better his community
Rod Finnie OLS

Derek was a thoughtful colleague and we often spoke about local history (Josie's family in Wellington County) and about challenging boundary issues. He brought his GPS and his uncle Charles Gibson, to our David Thompson re-enactment at Gravenhurst in 2006. Parry Sound surveyor Larry Maughan is dressed as Thompson. We will miss Derek's quick wit.
Tom and Josie Bunker

I always appreciated the time he took with me to pass on some of his knowledge when I was a young surveyor learning my trade.
Ian Robinson, OLS (retired)

I will miss his conversations and stories. a fine surveyor and source of inspiration.
Doug Culbert OLS

Condolences to the family
Beth Warmington Towriss