Toby Francis Ellis
Toby Ellis Obituary
It is with a shattered heart, but with the utmost respect and honor, that his “Miss P” announces the passing of Toby Francis Ellis July 24,2025 in British Columbia Canada.
Toby was born in Hawaii on June 3, 1974, the first child of David Francis Ellis and Carol Ann Ellis. A few years later, his beloved little sister, Philippa Ann Ellis, made the family complete.
Toby’s early life was as adventurous as the man himself — from Hawaii, then back to Dunbar Vancouver, and West Vancouver, before a move to Australia and, eventually, back to Vancouver. He attended Vancouver College and, after graduation, full of curiosity and adventure, set off for nearly a decade abroad, living in France, England, and other parts of the world, collecting friends, stories, and experiences in every place he landed. He then spent two years at the University of Victoria.
When he returned to Vancouver, Toby worked a variety of jobs (including some he would tell you he truly hated) and had countless wild experiences before finding his calling. He began working as a medic in the North and finally — 16 years ago — became a paramedic with BC Ambulance Service. It was a career he was deeply proud of, earning many commendations from both patients and the organization. The gratitude he received from those he helped spoke volumes about the kind of impact he had across the province.
Toby’s reach went far beyond his professional life. His heart, humour, kindness, “hayseedness,” and even his temper were part of what made him unforgettable. He had strong opinions and made no secret of them — he adored music (though not Coldplay or U2), had a forever loyalty to the Minnesota Vikings and Nottingham Forest, loved British comedies, Lotus cars, and cricket, but had no patience for hair buns, toe rings, salmon, quinoa, or the Seahawks. He had a sharp wit, a vast knowledge of history, science, literature, and nature, and could imitate any accent with uncanny accuracy. He could identify any bird by its call, leap into any ocean no matter how cold, and could never — for the life of him — remember to close a cupboard.
Toby was predeceased by his father, David, on November 3, 2017. He is survived by his dear mother, Carol; his beloved little sister, Philippa; Uncle Robert; Aunt Jean; Aunt Sharon; and an abundance of cousins, second cousins, and extended family and of course Paula, Nikos and the Goss family.
Also mourning the loss of Toby are many BC Ambulance colleagues, his VC boys, his large circle of friends in Vancouver, his friends he met all over the world when travelling, his cricket mates, the people he impacted during different jobs in his lifetime, and every single person who his kindness and heart made a lasting impression on them.
He impacted so many people across the world. What an incredible legacy and life he lived — loved and adored everywhere he went — One spot. One place in the world. One celebration of life. There couldn’t possibly be only one spot that could possibly celebrate his 51 years. What a LEGEND to have left that kind of impact on the world.
It was Toby’s wish that everyone who knew him celebrate his life in their own way, in their own moment — in a song, a meal, a smell, a laugh, a game of cricket, a football match on TV, a leap into the ocean, or even a moment that reminds you of Toby. Celebrate him anywhere, anytime, for the rest of your life.
The world is less without Toby in it. Toby — you were loved, you are missed, you will be celebrated always, and your beautiful kind loving heart will live on forever as a timeless gift within every life you graced. And your beloved dogs Miss Audrey Hepburn Ellis and Sir Benedict Francis Ellis — will never stop staring out the window wishing you were home.
“All is well.
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.
All is well.” By Henry Scott Holland (1857-1918)
In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor, his name, his legacy and his beautiful soul can go to