RODERICK JAMES

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RODERICK JAMES McRAE 1934 - 2016 Roderick James McRae, P.Eng. passed away at his home in Kelowna on Thursday, July 14, 2016 at the age of 81. He was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba on October 29, 1934 to John Lawrance and Margaret Westwater (Turnbull) McRae and grew up in East Kildonan. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Myrna; and his sons, Kirby (Joy Viberg) and Curtis (Jodie); and grandchildren, Alexandra and Cameron. Rod met Myrna in 1952. They were married in 1959 and raised their family in East Kildonan. The family built a cottage at Spruce Bay, Manitoba in 1972, which Rod and Myrna continued to enjoy every year during their summer road trips back to Winnipeg. Rod loved to build things, from model airplanes, to radio and hi-fi equipment, and especially working on his home and cottage, and later with helping his sons with their own home and yard projects. Rod graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1957 and began his career with the City of East Kildonan the same year. In 1976, he was promoted to City of Winnipeg Director of Operations as part of the Unicity amalgamation, and promoted to Commissioner of Works and Operations in 1983. Some of his proudest achievements included the development of Kilcona Park following closure of a landfill, the "Take Pride Winnipeg" initiative, and the 1994 Winnipeg Charleswood Bridge Project, the first true municipal design, build, operate Public/Private Partnership project in Canada, and his work with construction claim resolution and mediation. Rod took early retirement in 1994 after 37 years of service to Winnipeg, and he and Myrna moved to Kelowna where he took the position of City Engineer. He retired from the City of Kelowna in 1997 and consulted privately for a few years. He was a life member of the American Public Works Association, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba, and Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. Rod had a lifelong interest in flying model aircraft. In 1951, he won the overall Manitoba flying model championship and was sponsored by Plymouth to participate in the Plymouth fifth International Model Plane Contest in Detroit. Rod joined the Model Aircraft Association of Canada (MAAC) in 1951, and was one of five MAAC members who founded the Winnipeg Radio Control Club in 1963. Rod entered the worlds of model gliders in the 1970's and electric models in 1974. Following retirement, Rod reconnected with his love of model aircraft and electronics and began flying electric models exclusively, treating his hobby like a full time job and soon filling a large basement with aircraft. He was a member of the Kelowna Ogopogo Radio Controllers' Association, one of four founders of the Okanagan Electric Quiet Flyers Club in 2011 and a judge and participant at local flying meets. He also looked forward to participating in contests in Winnipeg and Gimli every summer. Rod's other interest was Scottish music and culture. Spurred on by his son's interest in highland bagpipes, accordion and pipe band drumming, he was an active member of the parent's committee of the Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band, helped plan band trips to Scotland in 1981 and 1985, and developed lifelong friendships with the other parents. Rod and Myrna started Scottish Country Dancing with RSCDS in 1979, enjoyed performing with the "Scottish Entertainers" at senior's centres and variety shows, and enjoyed several years of dancing with the Kelowna Scottish Country Dancers. Rod and Myrna were long time members of Winnipeg Robert Burns Club, with Rod serving as president in 1992. Both Rod and Myrna were heavily involved with coordinating, planning, and entertaining at the British "Mug Pub" Pavilion as part of Winnipeg's Folklorama festival, with Rod being Pavilion Mayor in 1988. Rod joined the St. Andrew's Society of Winnipeg in 1982, was an active board member and served as President in 1992. Rod was a remote founding member of Winnipeg's Scottish Gentlemen's Club in 2015. A remembrance service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 9 at Immanuel United Church, 755 Golspie Street, Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers, friends may make a donation in Rod's memory to Immanuel United Church, 755 Golspie Street, Winnipeg R2K 2V4, or to a charity of their choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 03, 2016