Nicholas Lees from Edmonton, Alberta, passed away at Canterbury Foundation on June 24, 2024, after a struggle with prostate cancer and the onset of dementia. He was announced dead through a social media post that read “A true #yeg legend has been lost. We at Edify are saddened to learn of the passing of legendary columnist and philanthropist Nick Lees. We featured Nick in our January issue, and now we post it again in remembrance.”
Who was Nick Lees?
In addition to his numerous hats, Nicholas Lees was a bike enthusiast, a traveller, an Edmonton Journal wine writer, a human interest columnist, and a HUGE advocate for charity fundraising. He was a well-liked newspaper columnist, wine enthusiast, raconteur, and interesting conversationalist. Throughout his nearly 50-year tenure at the Edmonton Journal, Nick delighted readers with his engaging news and feature reporting, innovative fund-raising efforts to help different organizations, and insightful columns on prominent and lesser-known local figures.
Born in Scotland Nick’s life was so extravagant that he had to invent a persona, Nick Danger, to handle the more extreme circumstances he encountered. Examples of these scenarios included running marathons, jumping out of military aircraft, climbing Mount Logan in Yukon, smashing his way through a demolition derby, and skiing the Birkebeiner. It turned out that most of what he mentioned in his column was true.
About Nick Lees
The remainder was an absolute blast. Nick was among those who occasionally questioned whether he was the world’s most fascinating man. That question was actually once printed out loud in a local magazine. The solution was clear-cut. Nick was usually the one starting things off and was always up for an adventure. Nevertheless, passion demands direction, so Nick integrated fundraising for neighbourhood organizations into his larger vision and contributed millions of dollars, frequently working with strangers who became fast friends in response to his appeals for joyous travellers.
In one trip, he persuaded forty bikers to ride beside a totem pole that was specially carved for the Stollery Children’s Hospital as it travelled 1700 kilometres from Haida Gwaii to Edmonton, raising almost $400,000. Additionally, he raised funds for CASA Mental Health during a 2019 return journey from Jasper to Haida Gwaii. His 80th birthday celebration, which earned over $250,000 for the University Hospital Foundation, was his last great success.
