- Winnipeg Free Press Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
BYRON WATT 1934 - 2012 Husband * Father * Entrepreneur Byron Watt was taken from us the morning of Wednesday, April 25, 2012, after losing a long standing battle with his lungs. He was 77. Born in 1934 in Saskatoon, Byron was raised in Winnipeg and spent the early part of his career in the tourist camp business. He was a keen hunting and fishing guide and always spoke fondly of his time in the camp business in northern Ontario. By 1958 he was living in Thompson, Manitoba, and was involved in 16 different businesses. He developed a motel with food service and owned an A W franchise, a Gondola Pizza franchise, a real estate company, a travel business, an insurance firm, a home construction business and a GM dealership. In a book detailing the history of Thompson, Byron was recognized as one of the key builders of the city as a result of his work in business and residential development. In 1970, at only 36 years of age Byron went in to semi-retirement. In 1974, he moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where the entrepreneurial bug started biting again, and Byron went back to work. From Edmonton he started a home construction business, brought a chain of transmission shops to the city, opened a Century 21 real estate office and started a pizza restaurant chain with over 50 locations (BAACO Pizza), among many other business ventures. What makes all of these business accomplishments even more impressive was his unwavering dedication to his family. Byron took his family camping for several weeks each summer, where he always made you bait your own hook and clean your catch. He was present at all school plays, children's concerts, and drove many a child to a hockey or ringette game, even at four in the morning. He sponsored several community sports organizations every year, and still managed to ensure he was home for dinner with his family almost every single night. In his later years, once again semi-retired,' he travelled between Edmonton, Vancouver Island and Palm Springs where he enjoyed spending time with his many friends, playing horseshoes, golf, bocce ball or shuffleboard, or just simply talking about the weather, or of course the women. Byron leaves his companion of 11 years, Shirley Nordal of Nanaimo; his children Brenda Roszmann (Allan Roszmann) of Vancouver, and her son Matthew Roszmann; Jason Watt of Edmonton, Cameron Watt (Marie-Claude Lachance) of Ottawa, and his sons Tristan Watt and Jeremy Watt; Julie Watt of Airdrie and her daughter Kaylin Matus and son Dustin Matus; Craig Watt (Lauren Andre) of Calgary and his son Alexander Watt and daughter Ella Watt. He also leaves his brother Donald Watt (Jesse Watt) of Abbotsford, and is predeceased by his wife of 26 years Elaine Watt, as well as his brother Robert Watt and his sister Norma Glover. At Byron's request there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his honour to a charity close to your family's hearts. Byron Watt, in short, was a great man. Someone to admire, remember and miss.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 28, 2012
Condolences & Memories (6 entries)
-
I worked for Byron as his travel agent in Thompson in 1962. I had an interview with him in Winnipeg ...guess we were both impressed with each other and my wife and I moved to Thompson. To make a long story short after a few months we had a falling out and I quit...probably a mistake on my part! I still admire the man very much and have just now found of his passing...my thoughts are with his family. - Posted by: Richard Laslett (Former Employee) on: Jan 07, 2013
-
I grew up with the Watt family. We were very close. I remember lots of family get togethers. Byron will be missed. Our condolences to the family. Love from the gray family. (Alice's Grays children). - Posted by: Susan Pstin (Fsmily friend) on: May 05, 2012
-
I started at Byron's Real Estate in 1973 in Thompson and went on to work with Century 21 Byron's Real Estate for Byron in Edmonton in 1980. When the bottom of the market dropped out & interest rates went thru the roof, real estate agents were declaring bankruptcy all over town. I, with 2 small children needed to get back to Manitoba & solid ground surrounded by family & friends...Byron was there to give me the emotional & financial support I needed to be able to get back on my feet & to support my family. Socially Byron always treated me as an equal & as a friend. He always had my respect & my loyalty. When the Aurora Awards program was introduced in Thompson, I was very proud of Byron being recognized for his contribution as an entrepreneur & developer. My sincere condolences to his family and sorrow for their loss of a fabulous family man. - Posted by: Don Berthelette (real estate salesman at Byron's Real Estate) on: May 03, 2012
-
I remember Byron in Thompson in the 1960's as an unforgettable character. - Posted by: Gerold Becker () on: Apr 30, 2012
-
I send my condolences to Mr. Watt's family. I started in the travel industry at Byron's Travel in Thompson in 1976, and now nearly 36 years later I am still involved in an industry that I have loved and have seen evolve enormously over the decades. I have traveled to many many parts of the world and Byron gave me that love of travel. Thank you for that gift in my life. To his family, please know that he changed lives, and I am just one of those many lives that was forever changed due to Byron Watt's entrepreneurial spirit. - Posted by: Veronica Pring-Mill (Neuman) (former employee - Byron's Travel, Thompson MB ) on: Apr 30, 2012
-
I remember him well - at one point my mom worked for Byron - great man, great entrepreneur - Posted by: Sandra Duncan (Thompsonite) on: Apr 30, 2012