About Billi

Wilena “Billi” Nicol grew up on the east coast of Nova Scotia during the war years. She was an avid student and pursued her teaching certificate after high school. She met her lifelong sweetheart shortly after her teaching career began, and together she and her husband, a member of the Royal Canadian Navy, embarked on a life that took them all across Canada. 

Billi and her husband retired to Vancouver Island in the 1990s. While her husband died from cancer shortly after the move, Billi remained a dedicated learner and teacher, traveling all around the world and teaching Elder College well into her 80s. 

Billi was best known to her grandchildren for her love of the ocean. She introduced this next generation to the underwater world in a number of ways, including rescuing beached jellyfish and identifying various sea creatures on long walks to meet the tide. Billi was a well-loved community member, always stopping to make new friends and having an open door policy in her own home. She was also a philanthropist, often surprising folks with her generosity of financial gifts and care for different causes. 

The Billi Foundation was created in Billi’s memory to support coastal communities as an homage to her love for community building and environmental advocacy and includes a specific education stream to reflect Bill’s passion for passing on knowledge to younger generations.

Through the Foundation, Billi’s legacy lives on.