JOHNSON, Peter Hedley

Peter passed away peacefully in Niagara Falls, ON, on October 3, 2026 with his wife Margaret by his side, after facing the challenges of living with Alzheimer’s for the past 8 years. He remained loving, witty and pleasant up to his final days. Peter is predeceased by his father and mother, Fred and Liely Johnson, and older brother David. He leaves behind his best friend and wife Margaret Pickles (Niagara Falls); his son Robin and daughter-in-law Jen and grandchildren Matthew and Megan (Edin Mills, ON) and nieces Cindy and Wendy (Arthur, ON) and nephew Davey (Luxembourg, Europe); dear life long friend Alice Johnson (Guelph, ON); and all of Margaret’s family who loved him dearly. Peter immigrated from Portsmouth, England, at the age 9, with his parents who wanted to give their sons a life full of opportunity. Growing up he enjoyed the care and excellent cooking of his mother and learned his house building skills from his father. Peter took every opportunity to make a better life, especially through education. In the 60s, after recovering from a life altering head injury, and while working as school bus driver and caretaker at Rockwood Public School, (and celebrating the birth of his son Robin with his first wife, Alice) he completed his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), at Waterloo Lutheran University. For a few years Peter and his brother David built many custom houses and horse barns in Guelph and area. In the late 80s and early 90s, during his time as the friendly city bus driver for Guelph Transit, he completed a Bachelor of Sociology and Psychology (BA) as a warm-up for his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at his newly named Alma Mater, Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo. During his tenure as ATU Local Union president, he attended many training sessions and earned certificates at the George Meany Center for Labor Relations, Washington, DC. In the late 90s, Margaret and Peter moved to Niagara Falls when Margaret became the Assistant Curator of the New Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory. Peter soon found his new, and very satisfying, career as Professor, in the Business Department, Niagara College. Later Margaret also joined the faculty of Niagara College, as Science Professor in the General Arts and Science Department. Under Margaret’s influence, Peter learned the joy of travelling during their many trips that included the Alberta Rockies, Vancouver Island, the Rugged coastline of Newfoundland, the Near North of Ontario, the spectacular coast of California’s Monterey Bay, the amazing rocks of Utah, and a visit to his British hometown. They also spent lots of time discovering the nature around our second home in central Florida. They had many adventurous and joyful days kayaking in the lush cypress swamps of central Florida, alongside the alligators, plentiful birds, insects, and other wildlife. Closer to home they enjoyed many days riding their recumbent trikes on the many cycling trails of Niagara. Peter and Margaret spent many happy hours walking the trails at Heartland Forest, Niagara Falls. Margaret would like to invite our friends to join her on a walk at the forest on the morning of Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 9:30am. We will meet at the entrance to the Nature Center. We appreciate the care, compassion, and guidance we both received from Alzheimer’s Society Niagara during Peter’s Alzheimer’s journey. Donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Niagara Society Niagara and Heartland Forest. Online condolences may be shared at www.essentialscbs.com