It is with deep sadness we announce the death of Victor Banno on August 27, 2026 in Vancouver. Victor was born in Kaslo, BC, but spent most of his childhood and teenage years in Kamloops. After high school he moved to Vancouver to attend UBC, obtaining his MD in 1969. He completed a residency in psychiatry in 1974 and practiced psychiatry for over 40 years in Vancouver.
Victor had a wonderful life. He loved his work and was known as a compassionate and skilled clinician who was devoted to patients with complex and challenging illnesses. A key part of his work was teaching medical students and residents in psychiatry which he enjoyed tremendously.
Victor was devoted to his family, including his brothers, wife, children and granddaughters. And we loved him for his unwavering encouragement and support, his generosity, his quirky sense of humor and his need to challenge conventional wisdoms and beliefs. We are fortunate to have many happy memories of the times we had together in Vancouver, on Galiano Island and on our many travels. We also had the privilege of sharing many of these times with our extended family and close friends.
Victor is survived by his wife Debbie, children Katherine (David) and Brian (Nancy), granddaughters Siena, Emma, Hana and Laurel, and sister in law Cathy. He was predeceased by his brothers Robert and Dale.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Oct. 3, 2026 at the Arbutus Club, 2001 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver, from 2 to 4 pm.
If you wish to make a donation in remembrance, please make it to the charity of your choice.
10 Comments
Gwen Ferguson ( David)
Debbie. Sorry to read about Victor’s passing.
I remember the warm welcome you and Victor provided us on our move to Vancouver.
Take care.
Gwen
Jennifer Lai
Sending love, strength, and our deepest condolences to the Banno family during this difficult time ❤️ We hope you all find comfort and support in all the wonderful and beautiful memories of Victor and the fulfilling life he lived. Love you all!
Dick Muir
Dear Debbie and family
Wendy and I wish to express our condolences and deepest sympathy for your loss.
Vera Frinton
Dear Debbie, and family,
I was shocked and very tearful on reading today’s Sun and Vic’s obituary. He was a wonderful classmate and colleague, and friend.
. My sincerest condolences, and I plan to attend the celebration of his life on October 3.
Vera
michael s dettman
I didn’t know Vic but think maybe he would have helped me be a better person. M.
Ina Takasaki Kuramoto
Dr, Griswold – I was sorry to read of your husband’s passing. I wanted to send my deepest condolences to you and your family as I will be out of the country,
I hope that all the great memories of your life together, will help you during this time. Thinking of you – Ina
Don Pavlovich
II was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my friend Victor.
I will remember Victor for his friendship, thoughtful nature, and the quiet but unforgettable ways he enriched the lives of others. Though our conversations and visits were often separated by time and distance, I will deeply miss his laughter and kindness.
Thoughts of the Banno brothers—Robert, Victor, and Dale—will always make me smile. I treasure the memories of our pickup hockey games at UBC, coffees at the White Spot on Broadway, and gatherings at the Dunbar house. Those days may be long past, but I will never forget them.
To Debbie and the family, I extend my heartfelt condolences. May you find strength in one another and comfort in knowing that Victor’s life mattered deeply. His memory will live on in everyone who cared for him.
In his honour, I will raise a cup of coffee on behalf of all at our old gathering place—the White Spot on Broadway.
Roy O'Shaughnessy
Very sad to hear of Vic’s passing. He was a cherished colleague and will be missed. My thoughts are with Debbie and family.
Anna Nazif
Debbie, Katherine and Brian: Dr.Banno (as he will forever be in my PGY-2 mind) was such a passionate yet laid-back educator. The number of hours that he spent moulding our (Dr. Miller, Dr Freed, Dr. Mathias, Dr. Holdworth and my own) young minds in 2002-2003 was incredible. So many things that we needed for our careers were learned in that formative year. Whether over a bowl of soup at the Century Hotel Cafe, or standing on the sidewalk on Comox Street while he had a smoking break, Dr. Banno’s kindness, caring and passion for our field was unmatched. It is from him that we learned “Banno-isms” like “a man in a baseball cap has Body Dysmorphia from baldness until proven otherwise”, “A woman with lipstick outside of the line of her lips is manic until proven otherwise”. He was an amazing interview skills teacher, he taught us to be curious, to be indirect, and to be clever in how we screened patients or symptoms. There was no boring, unimaginative, “Do you ever hear voices that other people don’ t hear?” type questions, useless to elicit real symptomatology; he demanded originality and creativity. Dr. Banno felt we were capable of managing 20-30 outpatients on our own over 6 months. Anxious, we would tell each other, “Even though we don’t know what we are doing, if we just show up and build a relationship with them, they will get somewhat better”. But his faith in us allowed us to try new things, be better than we were, and was formative in helping us become the psychiatrists we would become. I am grateful for all he taught and gave of himself, for his wry smile, for his ability to tell us the truth when we weren’t good enough without breaking our morale. He made me a better teacher for future generations. Your husband and father looms large in my mind; I am very sorry I could not make it to his memorial, but hope it was the celebration you imaged for him, and I hope others are other sharing their admiration and memories of Dr. Banno as well.
Erica Fowles
I was very sad to read of Victor‘s passing. We worked together in community mental health in the late 70s early 80s. He was a great team player and an astute clinician. His droll sense of humour was legendary.
Debbie and family, I am so sorry for your loss.