Former Oak Bay mayor Nils Jensen, a stalwart of politics in Greater Victoria for more than two decades, has died after a brief battle with cancer. He was 69.
Michael McEvoy, B.C.’s information and privacy commissioner, confirmed his friend’s death Sunday morning.
“It’s been pretty shocking the speed at which things have happened,” he said.
McEvoy said a service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Oak Bay High School Community Theatre.
Jensen, who served 15 years on Oak Bay council before winning back-to-back mayoral races in 2011 and 2014, was remembered for his positive outlook on life, commitment to public service and dedication to his community.
“Nils was an eternal optimist who embodied the word citizenship in all of the right ways,” McEvoy said.
“He came to Canada as an eight-year-old without being able to speak a word of English. He came from Denmark and he just embraced his country of Canada with a passion, and he embraced his local community.”
In addition to his lengthy stint on Oak Bay council, Jensen served as chair of the Capital Regional District board and headed the regional water supply commission.
It was in that role that he made among his most significant contributions to the region, former colleagues say.
“He really took a stand on water conservation back before it was the norm and not an easy position to always take, but a very principled one,” said Saanich Coun. Susan Brice.
“I think that was when I really first started realizing that once he thought something out and had come to position, he was not knocked off it just by controversy. He stuck to his principles.”
Indeed, Jensen was instrumental in spearheading the raising of the Sooke dam, said Victoria Coun. Geoff Young, who, along with his wife, Isobel Mackenzie, has been friends with Jensen and his family for more than 20 years.
The decision to raise the dam nearly doubled the capacity of the Sooke Reservoir and secured the region’s water needs for years to come.
“There was some concern, of course, about whether it was necessary and the costs,” Young said. “I think time has shown that that was definitely a wise and needed policy.”
McEvoy, former chairman of the Greater Victoria school board, said Jensen was also a key figure behind the new Oak Bay High School and the inclusion of a neighborhood learning centre.
“He really, really believed that the community and school should be intertwined,” he said. “He was also absolutely adamant that the school had to have a community theatre.
“So it’s actually quite appropriate that his service is actually going to be in the community theatre on Thursday.”
News of Jensen’s death prompted a flood of tributes on social media Sunday. “We have lost a statesman,” said former Saanich mayor Frank Leonard, while Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps noted that Jensen was “deeply committed to serving his community and will be missed by many.”
Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch, who defeated Jensen in the municipal election last fall, praised his predecessor’s contributions.
“Nils was a good man and had far too much life yet to live,” he said. “We all owe him our respect and appreciation for everything he's given to the community.”
Born in Copenhagen, Jensen immigrated with his family to eastern Canada in 1957 and later credited his Danish roots for influencing his political outlook.
“Danes have always been reform-minded and open to change, but at the same time try to build a community,” he told the Times Colonist in 2014. “Hyggelig” means a sense of coziness and community — and “that’s what we have in Oak Bay,” he said.
Away from politics, Jensen, who earned an engineering degree as well as law degrees from Osgoode Hall and the London School of Economics, worked as a defence lawyer and Crown prosecutor, and taught law at the University of Victoria.
“An interesting guy, well-read, engaged with the world,” McEvoy said. “You could discuss anything from science to local politics to world events, and he was just a wonderful friend.”
“He was just this incredibly optimistic person, and he dreamed of more for people than they dreamed for themselves,” said Isobel Mackenzie. “I think that’s part of the immigrant experience, and I think it’s part of who he was.”
Jensen leaves his wife, Jean, and sons Nicholas (Helen) and Stewart.
