Dylan Griffith Roberts

Dylan Roberts (known as Griff until his late teens) passed away at his home in Tofino, BC, in the community of his friends on May 14, 2020. Dylan's warm smile, helping hand and affinity for transforming all of the projects he touched will be missed by many.

Dylan was born to Eurwen Roberts (nee Jones, born in Denbigh, North Wales, passed May 6, 2001) and David ("Dai") Lewis Roberts (born in Liverpool, UK, now married to Wendy Roberts, nee Hanna/Forsythe) in North Vancouver. Dylan was the third of three children; older brother Ioan Bryn Roberts (married to Linda Roberts Perukso, daughters Megan and Sophie) and Sian Menai Roberts (partner Kevin Dunal, children Liam and Kara).  He also had three step-siblings:  Leontyne Burdett (nee Hanna, married to Alan Burdett, children Hailey, Elena, Owen), Sebastian Hanna (partner Victoria Reynolds) and Carrie Griffin (nee Dockendorf, married to Dan Griffin, sons Bodhi and Elijah), through Dai's second wife Carol Roberts (nee Dockendorf/Peck).

In West Vancouver, Dylan grew up in a family that spent a great deal of time sailing and cruising the Gulf Islands, often with two other families (the Dyers and the Rawsthornes). Sailing, fishing, swimming, exploring tidepools, rowing, building forts and adventuring was our everyday weekend experience – a pretty idyllic childhood. Summer trips to North Wales to spend time with our extended families on their farms was a unique and beautiful experience. Summers were busy with many cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, learning Welsh, helping out on the farms (milking cows, hay harvesting, sheep herding) and visiting castles!  Dylan was also a keen Scout - going right through the program from Cubs to Rovers to Outward Bound.

From a young age, he loved building and fixing things.  After attending West Bay Elementary School and graduating from Hillside Secondary school in 1984, he followed in his father's footsteps, starting a construction company (DRC Construction), framing/building large houses, renovating many others, and numerous other projects on the North Shore. His mom ("Mama") was his biggest fan, often joining him on construction sites for lunch and to see his work.  One of his most interesting building projects was the buildout of Bar Raval in Toronto -a beautiful "Barcelona-inspired pinxto bar" known for its stunning interiors.

In 2004, Dylan decided to continue his love of photography and start a second career. He moved to Toronto to pursue fashion photography while continuing his renovation business. He ran a successful photography company called MPX, which focused on fashion and runway models. He even did a couple of shoots with Guess and Gucci models. More recently, the emphasis of his photography became more landscape and nature, which he found so much of on his doorstep in Tofino.  He loved experimenting with how to capture beautiful images of fire and had talked of creating a book of them. 

During his time in Toronto, Dylan often escaped the Ontario winters by spending time in South America; Buenos Aries was a favourite spot. He loved to travel, whether in one of his beloved 4x4 trucks exploring Canada (including driving back and between Vancouver and Toronto six times each way, mostly because he loved being on the road) - or to further destinations such as Russia, Spain, Italy or Cuba, He also joined his brother Bryn several times, sailing from Vancouver to Mexico, in the Caribbean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Whenever possible, he had a fishing rod out.

Eventually, the West Coast's call for him to return was too great to ignore, and he headed west again, settling in Tofino, British Columbia, on the west coast of Vancouver Island. There he renewed his true passion, building, fixing and creating, in one of the most stunningly beautiful natural parts of the world. He loved it there and, always working to improve the community, became a fixture in Tofino. From renovating homes, volunteering at the local food kitchen, improving the amenities within the community he lived in, to even picking up litter along the main highway, Dylan always worked to ensure Tofino remained pristine.

His building & renovation work was widely acclaimed. He was not just a builder by any means; he was a craftsman with design and vision. This was reflected in the diversity of his work, such as a stunning seaside cabin, a beautiful bar in SoBo restaurant, custom shelves at Tuff City Radio, renovations at the Wickaninnish Inn or upgrading the amenities at the Crab Apple trailer park where he lived.  In his last few years, his personal pet project was an extensive renovation of a powerboat that was to become his home - a project that combined his love of building and living close to the water.

While Dylan lived a full, exciting and productive life, he suffered from mental health challenges.  During difficult episodes, he sometimes became angry and confrontational and, in later years, suffered from paranoia and sometimes lost touch with reality.  Nevertheless, Dylan had lifelong friends (including Ramsey Dyer and Dane Skillings), and his Tofino community embraced him, supported and loved him to the end.  Our family would like to acknowledge all the people in Dylan's life who supported him with compassion, support and inclusion. Thank you.  When someone struggles with mental illness, it's also a struggle for those who are close to them.  It's possible that some of us are holding some guilt or disappointment about times when we felt we didn't do as much as we could have for Dylan, but please treat yourself with the same compassion you treated Dylan with and forgive yourself. He would want that.   

Dylan's tradecraft will leave a significant legacy that will live on in the work that he produced. His passion for improving the lives of those in the communities he lived in and his dedication to beauty & excellence in all the projects he took on will be missed by his friends, family, acquaintances and clients.

A few days after he sadly took his life, a West Coast "smudge" was performed at Dylan's residence by Levi Martin, Elder, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, involving his close friends and some family members.  It was a healing ceremony that Dylan would have loved (video in mementos). A few days later, we held a wake on the deck Dylan built at his campsite, sharing stories, laughs, tears and memories with many from the community. It reinforced that he lived surrounded by friends and a community who cared for him, created beautiful things and lived in beauty.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be no formal services at this time. In the future, we will post news of service to intern Dylan's ashes on the North Shore. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dylan's memory to the Pacific Rim Hospice Society in Tofino, which "works to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families in the Pacific Rim Region during illness, injury, death and grief through education and compassionate care." 

The link is below.   Under "Fund," please select "Memorial Donation," and in the comments section, write "Dylan Roberts."

Use the "Mementos" button above to see some photos and videos of Dylan's life. Please feel free to upload pictures, stories and memories to this memorial site.  We all have different memories and experiences with Dylan, and it would be great to share them here.