In Loving Memory of Ulrike Bemvinda Rodrigues

We are sorry to share the news that Ulrike died unexpectedly on January 3, 2021 due to a stroke caused by a brain tumour at age 59. As far as we can tell she died at home in her sleep.

Ulrike will be missed by many, including her mother Ursula Rodrigues, widowed, brother and sister-in-law Jürgen and Kim Rodrigues, brother and sister-in-law Yvan (Tiger) and Sarah Rodrigues, high-school friend Chris Sprague, and countless friends across the world.

Ulrike spent her youth in Guelph, Ontario.  She attended Centennial High School, involved in the school newspaper and Guelph's emerging punk rock scene. She graduated from University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Arts, and worked in graphics and commercial art before moving to Vancouver in her late twenties.

In recent years she has focused on writing, cycling, and travel, and has played a key role in Vancouver's homes-not-hotels movement as Vancouver residents found affordable housing displaced by Air-BnB rentals. Throughout her life Ulrike has welcomed a diverse array of friends. She has contributed to the music and arts communities, and has been heavily involved in the Vancouver bike scene.

A few months ago Ulrike started experiencing symptoms of loss of memory, difficulty writing and using the computer, and fatigue resulting in her quitting her job to pursue testing. Sadly the problem was more severe and acute than anyone realized, and she passed away before her scheduled MRI appointment later in the month.

Ulrike generously willed her apartment to Atira Women's Resource Society to be used as furnished housing, and her savings to create an endowment fund called Basic Needs + Mitey Deeds – a legacy fund to connect women and girls to shelter, support, and potential.

Respecting her wishes, there will not be a funeral. Please help commemmorate her by sharing your memories here.

Share Your Memories

Please take a moment to share your memories and photos of the time you have spent with Ulrike by clicking this link: Share a memory.

by Claire on Thursday, January 7, 2021 - 08:37

Through my work here at the City, with short-term rentals, I have come to know Ulrike and her passion and commitment to the community. In 2019 my colleagues and I met with Ulrike to talk about the Unintended Opportunities report and for her to share her experience on the impacts of short-term rentals.

We have had a number of communications over the past couple years and I recently spoke with her just a few days prior to Christmas as she had been chosen to be part of the Short-term Rental Working Group and we were reviewing a meeting from November.

I admired Ulrike’s passion, her kind and thoughtful demeanour, and her commitment to her community here in Vancouver. She has left a strong legacy in her work and in her generosity to help others in her death.

by Steve Vanderwoerd on Thursday, January 7, 2021 - 08:31

I was fortunate to share some pretty meaningful moments with Ulrike despite only spending time with her in person a handful of times. Once she was the only person to make the trip to my suburban home for a Mojito party,.. she had to show me how to make the Mojitos...

She met with me on 2 occasions to discuss work choices. In those short meetings she gave me an important perspective I would never had conjured alone and I needed it. She truly gave me life changing advice to consider.

I was lucky enough to see her in her element when we did a 3 day bike trip together with another friend to Vancouver Island. Ulrike was not one to sit on the sidelines or say no to an opportunity to socialize or try something new. She also connected people and was my gateway to a community I was destined to be part of but always felt on the outside of. That is how I will remember her.

by Costa B on Thursday, January 7, 2021 - 07:43

I am heartbroken. Uli, you were a wonderful colleague of mine this past summer and autumn and I enjoyed our interactions and being there for each other as we were learning the ropes. Memory eternal.

by Kim Holcomb on Thursday, January 7, 2021 - 06:38

I am so sorry to hear of this loss. My deepest condolences to all who loved Ulrike.

I did not know Ulrike well but always enjoy our fellow love for bikes. My last memory of Ulrike was a Richmond bike ride, sharing my libations of choice and much conversation and laughter and then sharing more of my libations of choice. Apparently, we both had a love for cold, tart, vodka cocktails on a hot summer day. I will miss our random meetings, our mutual love for bikes, and her incredable travel stories. I also remember Ulrike as being a pretty dang good photographer. But mostly what I will miss is my random meetings with a strong, intelligent, and free-spirited woman who defined her life on her own terms and inspired other women to do the same.

Ulrike, You will be deeply missed by many.

Kimberlee

Kimberly Holcomb

by Claire Lomas on Thursday, January 7, 2021 - 05:30

I met Ulrike though her activism at city hall. She was a true community member. I will miss plotting to make the world a better place with her. Vancouver, we lost a great one.

by Rick Pedersen on Thursday, January 7, 2021 - 01:47

OMG!...I am very sad to hear this news!!

Ulrike Rodrigues was such a great person and a huge cornerstone for those of us battling against Short Term Rentals in B.C. I had multiple communications with her over the last several years and she was a great resource and help to me in my fight to eliminate STR's. My condolences to her family and friends, she will be remembered well and missed.

Rest in peace my friend.

by Greg Klaassen on Thursday, January 7, 2021 - 01:43

Ulrike will be missed by a whole generation of cyclists in Vancouver that she regularly rode with. Ladner pumpkin ride without her crazy mitey mite bike will not be the same. - G

by Ros Coventry on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 - 22:58

I met freewheeling bike rider, Ulrike, in a roundabout way, thanks to cousin Peter, in France, a bike enthusiast. She arrived in South Australia, looking to get a bike and travel south and east.  We met up in the pretty little town of Robe. She was a little disappointed I was not on my motorbike, as that was in times past. We camped out by the beach and shared rosé and stories, and she took off for Melbourne on the Rebel.

I missed my old bike then. Handing it over to me later, I am still the owner of the cute Rebel. We met up again later, and kept in touch. Via her intro to her lovely friends in France I also got to stay in a tiny viilage there, cat-sitting, as she did. Plans were made to meet up and travel Scotland in mid 2020, camping out, even to stay in a remote castle, bookings made in Edinburgh, but....Covid, not to be. 

Devastating that fate has taken her now, far too soon. She will be so much missed by many friends and family. So pleased she left us some great writing of her travels to re-read.  RIP, Ulli, go easy.

by Sue Smith on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 - 20:26

Ulrike (Uli) casually appeared in our lives one sunny day in late 2016 during her Aussie Sojourn. She was a breath of fresh air, and had the most charming approach to life. Leith and I spent considerable time with her in Willunga and surrounds, wine tasting, enjoying music, exchanging stories and solving the Worlds problems.

We introduced her to our dear friend Brett, who has also since passed, and they became 'bike buddies', she loved his Harley and his 'Je ne sais quoi', and he admired her for her adventurous spirit (and the fact she was so darned cute). He helped her buy, fix and, ultimately sell her Aussie 'wheels', which took her on her journey along the Great Ocean Rd, and on to Sydney, before conveying her safely back to us in Willunga.

After returning to BC Uli kept in touch, with little cards, messages, and Facebook comments. Until COVID closed the worlds doors she was intending to come and stay with us (about now in fact) so she could take part in another Aussie adventure...the Outback Postie run, as her 60th birthday gift to herself.

I like to believe she rides now, with Brett at her side, and her beloved PH riding pillion, and that this is just the start of her next big adventure. See you on the flip side, Ulrike xxx

by Shannon Rae on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 - 18:44

I am stunned to hear about Ulrike's passing...I keep seeing her around a corner, with her jaunty kerchief, riding one of her bikes or motorcycles - and I hear her lilting voice as she talked about her amazing travels: I mean "Girl Gone Goa"...that was Ulrike: adventurous & whimsical, with laughter in her voice, she was ready to experience, and take on, anything!

We worked together as owners and strata council members on operating our strata building and yes, she was instrumental in moving us all forward on many "real" issues with respect to housing, landscaping, and waste: she arranged that we have our refundable bottles collected by a firm that turns much of our wasteful but valuable items into income for others...

We all knew how to spell her name, however, we all said it differently, and even discussed it once when she was not present, "how do you say her name", and "well, I heard her say it this way..."

Ulrike, I look up to your lovely balcony every time i come home now and see your bright light is out...you are very missed...however you have left so much of yourself here with us...thank you...

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