Howie Wilson: Obit

Howie Wilson

1940-2012 Howie Wilson, dedicated public servant, bagarreur and bon vivant, died on February 19th, aged 71We are immensely sad as we mourn the death of our dear Dad, Howie Ross Wilson.

Howie was born in Edmonton in 1940 but spent most of his high-school years in Hay River, NWT. He attended the University of Alberta on a scholarship where he met his wife Lassie (Frances) Chalmers in 1962. They married in 1964 and moved to Ottawa where Howie began his 39-year public service career. Throughout his career, he prided himself in providing frank, informed and impartial advice to deputies, ministers and even the Prime Minister. As his dear friend Peter Clark said: "Howie Wilson was a great Canadian who understood both the public and how to serve them." He loved a good intellectual challenge, and his last assignment as Ethics Counsellor was certainly that. He took a lot of heat but enjoyed every minute, every political cartoon, and was proud of the work of the Office.

Howie applied the same fair and principled approach to parenting that he did to his work. He was a hands-on Dad to us as young children spending time on long canoe treks, teaching logic puzzles, and helping us discover the world. As we got older he would engage us in loud nightly debates over dinner on the topics of the day. Dad loved traveling and a fine meal, so all our family holidays included Dad spending a good part of the day strategizing on how to find the best restaurant in the town that were visiting. We have many fond memories of great meals.

He loved being a grandfather, and was fondly referred to as Howie, grandpapa Howie or Bozo One by his grandchildren Jasmine, Nicolas, Véronique, Benjamin, Juliette, Oliver and Eric. When his 4-year old grandson Oliver heard about his death, he said: "Today is a sad day, and my grandpa Howie is a bright start in the sky now."

During his retirement, Howie had time to rediscover his passion for opera, become more active in the Rideau Club, and make daily jaunts to the Market to his favourite shops, including Sasloves.

Howie is sadly missed by his wife Lassie; by his children Patricia (Christopher), Stewart (Ira), Andrew; his grandchildren; his sister Linda Stewart (Merrill); his in-laws Dennis Chalmers (Kate), Barb Izzio (Joe); Elinor Murphy, Shannon Fynn, Celine Nadreau; and his nieces and nephews.

We will hold a memorial service on August 30, 2012 to celebrate his life. He would have been 72. We look forward to sharing stories and memories of Howie with his friends and family.