Hector was a silk weaver by profession and a trade union leader in Chile’s Textile Workers Union. He emigrated from Chile to Canada in 1978 following the US supported coup and subsequent dictatorship in Chile of General Augusto Pinochet. After the coup in Chile, Hector was blacklisted for his union activities and unable to find employment anywhere.
In Canada, he worked for a number of years in Edmonton at the University Hospital and later, when he moved to BC, at the City of Victoria. He was regarded as a dedicated and conscientious worker who was always willing to lend a hand to anyone. Hector was devoted to his adopted country, a very ‘proud’ Canadian and spoke out strongly about the need to ‘buy Canadian’. While still working he participated in a number of the humanitarian caravans to Cuba with Pastors for Peace.
Hector loved life and remained socially and physically active until two weeks prior to his passing. He was involved in many activities including the Victoria Weavers, sang and danced in Tango festivals, volunteered at the Greek festival, and a proud dishwasher and ping pong player at the Juan de Fuca Senior’s Centre.