In the Chemistry Department at UBC’s Point Grey campus, Brian Ditchburn, the Chemistry departments dedicated glassblower, works tirelessly on delicate glassware. His hands move with precision, customizing items and repairing about 90% of the glassware brought into his lab, with a skilled touch that had been honed over 25 years. “Brian is a key member of the department, and a rare one; few chemistry departments across the country have full-time glassblowers,” says Dr. Laurel Schafer, head of the UBC chemistry department.
Amid the bustling lab, a photo of his late daughter, Kaelin, sits above his workstation.
Kaelin passed away a decade ago, at just eight years old, after a battle with an undiagnosed seizure disorder. Her life had been full of challenges, each seizure wiping away her memory, but through it all, she knew one thing—she was loved. Brian carried that love with him every day, and though grief never fully left him, he found a way to give back.
Kaelin had spent countless hours at B.C. Children’s Hospital, and during those visits, Brian had bonded with the nurses, often gifting them his handmade beaker mugs—a unique glass design he had perfected over the years. After Kaelin’s death, he began selling these mugs, donating the proceeds to children’s hospitals and the Surrey Centre for Child Development. It was his way of making sure others received the help and care that Kaelin had.
But his generosity didn’t stop there. Every year, Brian participates in the UBC Chemistry Graduate Student Society's end-of-year raffle, offering a glassblowing workshop as one of the prizes. He teaches the students how to make beautiful glass icicles. Students come by, not only to learn glassblowing but also to seek solace. Brian’s workshop had become a refuge, a place to escape the pressures of school, throw glass against the floor for stress relief, or simply talk.
He enjoys the moments when students, old and new, gather around to craft their ornaments. The hardest part of his job is always the same: saying goodbye when students graduated. Yet, his door remains open to everyone. For Brian, sharing his passion for glassblowing and offering a listening ear is a way to keep Kaelin’s memory alive and spread love and kindness.
Read the full story here.
If you or someone you know need mental health support these holidays, a list of resources is available here.
Media Coverage:
- Postmedia via Vancouver Sun, The Province
- CityNews