Niko Fleming

Niko said he had always thought of himself as a lucky guy. 

And in most ways, he was.

Born in Vancouver on Christmas Day, Niko’s childhood was spent in many parts of the world. He was very much loved by his parents, Ieva Wool and Peter Fleming, and he was proud to be brother to Danae, Aiscia, Gabe and Silvi. 

His itinerant childhood met a deep and abiding natural curiosity. Perhaps this is why he was most at home when he wasn’t at home, whether pursuing some new-to-him knowledge or travelling. One of his few disappointments in a life that was all too brief was that he made it to only five continents. 

Niko was a master of numbers and strategy, something many quickly learned after losing to him at cards. These skills were also on display during his career in the public service. The bulk of this was spent at the Department of Finance, a place where his restless mind and wit could get plenty of exercise, and where he was known for his ability to attract and train new talent. 

His greatest satisfaction, though, was the life he created with his best friend and wife, Katharine Wright, and their children, Joseph, Leo and Beatrix. Niko loved being a father. He taught them new card games, set up family movie nights, served as dungeon master for a short and extremely loud period, created secret handshakes, and planned vacations around their interests. In a fatherly personal best, he once blew off a bunch of senior military and civilian officials so that he could attend the Grade 1 play. Niko was dedicated to his family. It is they who felt Niko’s love so fiercely, and they who feel the pain of his loss the sharpest. 

His understanding of probability did not leave much room for hope when he received his mesothelioma diagnosis. Niko understood how this was likely to end. He was impatient with warrior metaphors. He would be the first to tell you he wasn’t a hero. But he faced his pending mortality with clarity and dignity, and he understood better than most of us that it is its impermanence that gives life meaning. 

The family thanks Niko’s extended family, friends, colleagues, community and the doctors and staff with the Ottawa Hospital who supported him since his diagnosis.

A funeral service will be held at 2 pm on August 17th at Beechwood Cemetery. A celebration of Niko’s life will be held at 2 pm on September 24, 2022 at Beechwood Cemetery with remembrances and a reception. 

Niko believed that we all have the power to make positive change in people’s lives and to build more caring communities. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations in Niko’s name to the Elizabeth Fry or John Howard Societies, to the Shepherds of Good Hope, or to a charity of your choice.

- The wave returns to the ocean -