WILLIAM (BILL) EDWARD EVANS

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WILLIAM (BILL) EDWARD EVANS 1942 2006 Bill passed away on Monday October 9, 2006 at the St. Boniface Hospital. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Linda, son Christopher and daughter Marnie. He was predeceased by his father, Edward Burrell Evans, in 1979 and his mother, Eileen Elizabeth (Brisbin), in 1967. Bill's lack of immediate family has been more than made up for by the many close relatives in his wife's family and their unceasing love for each other and for Bill. Bill attended elementary and high school in Thunder Bay Ontario, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, in 1965 and received a Diploma from the Banff School of Advanced Management in 1986. Bill began his career in the fledging cable television industry, designing and implementing cable systems in Thunder Bay, Pinawa and the large Winnipeg Videon System, which brought him back to Winnipeg in 1967. While briefly in Toronto and on his return to Winnipeg, he designed many systems for other cities across Canada. In 1971 he joined the Manitoba Telephone System (MTS) where he had an 18 year career related largely to business communication engineering, holding a number of increasingly senior management positions at MTS, and represented MTS on several national telephone industry committees. In 1989 he left MTS with a colleague to form E B Systems Limited, a consulting engineering firm specializing in broadband telecommunication and broadcasting projects internationally on five continents. In recent years the firm designed and implemented several unique broadband systems for distance education as well as serving as technical consultants for the establishment of the Manitoba Telehealth Network. The firm's work received awards of Excellence and Merit from the Consulting Engineers of Manitoba. Bill served many local professional associations at the Board level, acting as Secretary for the Electronic Industries Association of Manitoba (EIAM), the Information Systems Technical Advisory Panel of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and, for the past 3 years, as Secretary for the Consulting Engineers of Manitoba (CEM). Bill also served on the Board of the Winnipeg Chapter of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), was a Senior Member of both the IEEE since 1978 and the Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers (SCTE) since 1974, was a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada, Association of Professional Engineers of Manitoba and the Canadian Cable Television Pioneers. Bill became fascinated with radio and electronics in his early teen years which drove his selection of profession and fueled a life long interest in amateur radio. He held an Advanced Class License, with call letters VE4UD, since the early 70s, and made many friends locally, nationally and internationally via the airwaves. Bill always considered amateur radio much more than a hobby. A refuge from life's storms and strains and a chance to build and construct with one's own hands, as well as meet and talk with people around the world as well as throughout Manitoba. Bill took great pleasure from the family cottage at Victoria Beach, where he maintained a complete amateur radio station and much enjoyed fishing, golfing and bicycling. For many years he was a season ticket holder of the Blue Bombers, Jets and, more recently, the Winnipeg Goldeyes. His interest in these team sports underlined his love and support for Winnipeg. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13 at Thomson Funeral Home, 669 Broadway The family would like to send a sincere thank you to Dr. Johnston, Dr. Stimpson and their primary nurses at Cancercare, the nurses and doctors on Ward 3D of the Health Sciences Centre, the nurses and care workers from the Manitoba Home Care Program, and the nurses and doctors at the St. Boniface Palliative Care Unit for their care and compassion shown to Bill and his family during Bill's illness. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations sent to the Salvation Army, 55 Donald Street, Suite 500, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1L8 Thomson Funeral Home 669 Broadway 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 10, 2006