Who loves Fishing? If so, you have a soul mate with Willy! “One more pass”, “One more cast”, or “Just 5 minutes more”, were common refrains heard towards the end of each fishing excursion. He started out fishing as a wee boy with his Gramps on Rice Lake in S. Ontario. Progressed to a love of tropical fish which he developed with his dad Ernie. Apparently, he knew the Latin name of every tropical fish in existence, as he raised them in his basement in Hamilton. Mom Pat put up with it all. A BSc in science from University of Toronto then his Masters in Fisheries Biology from York University. Who spends part of their honeymoon pulling up gill nets on Alluring Lake in Algonquin Park researching swim bladders in Splake!
“Landed” his dream job with the Ministry of Natural Resources as a fisheries biologist at head office in Toronto. Progressed to Sault Ste Marie as Regional Biologist then Wawa as District Manager. On a trip to Kenora he fell in love with Lake of the Woods and was determined to come to the Northwest, which he did as Deputy Regional Director in 1981. Determined to stay in Kenora when the regional office was moved from Kenora to Thunder Bay, he was named to the position of First Nation Liaison officer for the NW Region, helping to build relationships and facilitate economic development opportunities in local First Nation Communities. When he retired from the MNR, he said at his retirement party that he loved what he did so much, it didn’t really feel like work!
Onto his next career, his consulting firm, Straight Line North Inc. Bill worked with Tolko, Treaty 3, Manitoba Hydro, and as a fishing guide on Lake of the Woods, he loved taking kids out fishing the most. He developed many special friendships through his consulting work, truly treasuring his special relationship with Frances Kavanaugh at Treaty 3.
All work and No play? Certainly not!
A lifetime’s worth of hunting, early with his dad and cousin Glenn, who was more like a brother, and later with the community of hunters he helped build and mentor. Over 30 years of consecutive trips to the Interlakes area of Manitoba, especially treasuring the ones when he was joined by his sons Geoff and Marty. The Nestor Falls deer hunt with his MNR buddies, the local duck hunts around Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River, there was never a morning too early.
Bill enjoyed many sports and activities. Basketball at U of T, running (Manitoba Marathon), canoe trips, tennis, scuba diving, curling (Happy Hour in Keewatin – oh those were some parties we had), X-country skiing (50 K Sibley Loppet), plus group trips with special friends to Thunder Bay, Lutsen, Clear Lake, and Silverstar.
Coaching his kids in soccer and hockey, where we made special lifelong friends with the Valentas, Georges, Spencers, Hughes, and Loewens. The list goes on, with Theatre trips to MTC, House Concerts with Home Routes, Winnipeg Folk Festival and Trout Forest Festival, Book Club, cards, especially Christmas Eve euchre tournaments at the Valentas, travel for over 20 years to warm places with the wonderful friends made when he worked at the Glenora Fisheries Research Station, (his moves on the dance floor are legendary), 3 months in Australia and New Zealand with the Ritzels.
Fishing, his true passion. He never went anywhere without packing his trusty rod, including Salmon and Steel Head fishing in BC. He loved fishing the tournaments, KBI, Minaki, Sioux Narrows, Fort Frances, but especially the Bronze Back, when he got to fish with his grandson Ben. Great Memories for sure.
One highlight of each year was our trip to Muskoka for our family reunion at Hacienda Smith, hosted for over 40 years by Sister Carol and her husband Jaff. Bill was the go-to for all matters of fish, wildlife, or nature related. He had a vast knowledge of biology and had a special ability to connect with all animals. Who has a pet skunk, a pet raccoon, or a pet monkey? And of course, the dogs, Miss Heidi, Spook, and Sachmo, and the Bull Cat.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Perch Bay Resort, July 11, 2026, 1:00 to 4:00pm. Sharing any antidotes or special stories you have at that time is encouraged and appreciated. If desired Donations can be made to Club Day Away or the Pinecrest Auxiliary through Pinecrest Home or to a charity of your choice.
Bill is survived by his wife Sue, sons Geoff (Sonja), and Marty (Panayiota), Sue’s family, Peggy (Doug), Carol, Geoff (Laura) and Leslie (Chris), plus their children, Tyler (Sophie), Graham (Amy), Conor (Becca), Mike (Kelly), Molly (Dave), Jesse (Natalie), Brett (Cam) and Mitchell (Paige), and all their children. Cousin Glenn (Christine), and Judy (Earl), and their children, Tyler (Carrie), Melissa (Ken), Greg (Cheryl) and Mike (Megs), and their children, as well as his Greek Family, Barb and Gus, John, Dani, Stath, Kelly, Anna and Eric, and their children.
Spending time with his grandkids Ben, Alexa, Vasilis, Stavros, Kostas, and Elenia, and teaching them how to fish, is a memory they all share!
GONE FISHING…