WILLIAM GORDON MCKAY

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WILLIAM GORDON MCKAY William Gordon McKay passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, one week after his 96th birthday. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 16, 7:00 p.m. at St. Peters Anglican Church, 755 Elm Street (Elm Street at Grant Avenue). For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit our website. www.chapellawn.ca 885-9715
Publish Date: Jan 11, 2014

WILLIAM GORDON MCKAY William Gordon McKay passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Born in Regina on December 10, 1917, Bill grew up in Portage la Prairie, attending Portage Collegiate Institute. He received a degree in Civil Engineering from Queen's University in 1940. Bill's father, Gordon Finlay McKay, was a travelling fruit and vegetable salesman with the Portage Fruit and Vegetable Company. His mother, Kate McKay (nee Garnier), was one of first graduates of the Victoria Order of Nurses. From 1945 until 1982, Bill was a partner with Underwood MacLellan & Associates, which later became the UMA group & Spantec. During his career, Bill served as UMA's General Manager and later President, in Saskatoon and later Winnipeg. During his career, Bill was an active member of the Engineering Institute of Canada and held the Presidency of the Institute in 1969 and 1970. He also served as President for many organizations, including the original Canadian Section of American Water Works Association, the Association of Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan, the Western Canada Water and Sewage Conference, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Manitoba and the Association of the Scientific, Engineering and Technological Community (SCITEC). Bill was the recipient of the Lindsten Award, the Fuller Award and the Bedell Award. He was also a member of the Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Federation of the Associations on the Canadian Environment (FACE). In addition, Bill served as Executive Director of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada and as director and secretary of many other national, provincial and local organizations and committees. Bill had a lifelong interest in history and, specifically, a keen interest in the Prairie Provinces, its small towns, and the people who lived there. He was very involved in Heritage Winnipeg and the preservation of the buildings of the Market Square area and the Exchange district. Bill served as President of Heritage Winnipeg during a tumultuous period when these buildings were seriously threatened by demolition. As a committed volunteer with the Anglican diocese of Rupertsland for decades, Bill spent a great deal of time assisting with administrative matters and maintenance of church properties across the diocese. He was recognized by the Diocese with the Order of Rupertsland for his contributions. On August 28, 1948, Bill and Loreen Elizabeth Wells married in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Loreen and Bill have three children, all born in Saskatoon; William Kent (married to Anne Trites), Nancy Catherine, and Jeffrey Gordon (married to Dodie Graham McKay). Bill leaves behind to mourn; his wife Loreen, children; Kent, Nancy, Jeff, and his five grandchildren, Leo and Finlay McKay of Winnipeg, Annie Quart (married to Geoff Quart) of New York, Lisa McKay, (married to Rick Marshall) of Toronto and Elizabeth Malinowski (married to David Malinowski) of London, England; and great-grandchildren; Owen Marshall, and Madelyn and Zoe Quart. The family would like to thank the staff at the Victoria General Hospital for their respectful and thoughtful care of Bill, particularly Dr. Ian Thorlakson and Dr. Jean Young. Special thanks is extended also to Reverend Donna Joy for her attention to Bill during his final days. There will be a memorial service in January at St. Peters Anglican Church (Elm Street at Grant Avenue). Date to be announced. Cremation services by Chapel Lawn. This link http://www.eic-ici.ca/hawp11.pdf is a memoir, written by Bill at the request of the Engineering Institute of Canada, detailing his career as pioneer of Engineering in Western Canada. For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit our website. www.chapellawn.ca 885-9715
Publish Date: Dec 28, 2013

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 11, 2014