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Tri-Cities’ woman with terminal illness marries high-school sweetheart in Eagle Ridge Hospital

By Patrick Penner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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January 6, 2025

hospital-wedding — Victoria Johnson with her new husband during the Dec. 21 wedding. Jay Shaw photograph

A special wedding ceremony took place at Eagle Ridge Hospital (ERH) over the holidays.

Suffering from the advanced stage of a terminal illness and unable to leave the hospital, 39-year-old Victoria Johnson chose to marry her high-school sweetheart, Gordon, at the hospital chapel before she passes.

“Victoria and Gordon’s love story began many years ago when they first met in high school, and Victoria’s special wish was to marry Gordon, the love of her life,” said Fiona DeVries, communications manager with the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation.

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Around a dozen people attended the small wedding ceremony on Dec. 21, including Johnson’s young daughter and other close family members.

The ceremony was serviced by a local photographer, hair stylist, florist and baker, who donated their time to help make the wedding possible.

Victoria thanked ERH’s doctors, nurses, and social workers for the “exceptional” level of palliative care provided, and their passion to help give the ceremony a “personal touch.”

Kristina Chung, executive director of the foundation, said it was “truly heartwarming” to see local businesses, and volunteers join together during the holiday season for the wedding.

“These are businesses we’ve had the pleasure of working with for years, and their generosity in donating their time and services speaks volumes about the spirit of our Tri-City community,” Chung said. “The care and compassion shown by the staff at Eagle Ridge Hospital made this an unforgettable day.”

Jay Shaw photograph

Author

Patrick Penner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Having spent the first 20 years of his life in Port Moody, Patrick Penner has finally returned as a hometown reporter.

His youth was spent wiping out on snowboards, getting hit in the face with hockey pucks, and frolicking on boats in the Port Moody Arm.

After graduating Heritage Woods Secondary School, Penner wandered around aimlessly for a year before being given an ultimatum by loving, but concerned, parents: “rent or college.”

With that, he was off to the University of Victoria to wander slightly less aimlessly from book, to classroom, to beer, and back.

Penner achieved his undergraduate degree in 2017, majoring in political science and minoring in history.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, translating this newfound education into career opportunities proved somewhat challenging.

After working for a short time as a lowly grunt in various labour jobs, Penner’s fruitless drifting came to an end.

He decided it was time to hit the books again. This time, with focus.

Nine months later, Penner had received a certificate of journalism from Langara College and was awarded the Jeani Read-Michael Mercer Fellowship upon graduation.

When that scholarship led to a front page story in the Vancouver Sun, he knew he had found his calling.

Penner moved to Abbotsford to spend the next three years learning from grizzled reporters and editors at Black Press Media.

Assigned to the Mission Record as the city’s sole reporter, he developed a taste for investigative and civic reporting, eventually being nominated for the 2023 John Collison Investigative Journalism Award.

Unfortunately, dwindling resources and cutbacks in the community media sphere convinced Penner to seek out alternative ways to deliver the news.

When a position opened up at the Tri-Cities Dispatch, he knew it was time to jump ship and sail back home to beautiful Port Moody.