Pip

About the Book

Even those who knew Pip Holmes well — wherever in the world they live — might be surprised at the scope of his achievements, but they’ll certainly recognize his unmistakable touch of style.

Thoroughly Canadian by heritage, legacy, vocation and effort, Pip’s heritage was French, Anglo-Irish, Spanish, Scottish and Métis, and like his HBC and XY Company forebears, he knew the land. To explore, they used snowshoes and canoes. Pip used bicycles, sailboats and Mark VII Jaguars. When young war hero Pip returned from Bomber Command, the same focus and skills that had earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross energized his deep-running ethic of service and highly successful career.

While world president of the International Real Estate Federation, most often known by its acronym FIABCI, he intensified his travels in dozens of its member countries to encourage essential training and education in the industry. His work was about global human settlement and shelter, protection of the right to hold title to property and, more than anything else, the need to be intelligent guardians of the land for the future.

The Victoria real estate firm Pemberton Holmes Ltd. had been founded by his great-grandfather and grandfather and, as its fourth president for more than forty years, he immersed himself in family, business and community commitments. He began his autobiography for his children and extended family, and this is the continuation of his intention.

Welcome to the story — in twenty-two short chapters and 250 photos — of Philip Despard Pemberton Holmes.

About the Author

Now living near Victoria, B.C., Camilla Turner is a researcher, writer and book editor. The pilot’s-eye-view of the southern B.C. coast she chose for the cover photo was taken by Pip Holmes while flying home to Vancouver Island, yet again, from overseas.