We regret to advise of the sudden death of Captain Walter Slipchenko (Ret’d) at his home in Iroquois, ON on 23 June 2016 at the age of 82.
Walter was born in Winnipeg, MB in 1934 and grew up in that city. After completing High School he joined the Canadian Army under the Regular Officer Training Plan. He attended the Canadian Military College at Royal Roads at Victoria, BC and graduated from the Royal Military College at Kingston, ON in the Class of 1958. His first posting was with 1 Field Squadron, Petawawa. Upon leaving the military after a short career as an officer in the Royal Canadian Engineers, Walter sought a civilian career. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Masters in Arts in 1966 and then joined the federal public service in Ottawa.
Walter had a distinguished career in the public service focused on Aboriginal Affairs and Canada's circumpolar relations. His primary professional focus for thirty-five years was the Soviet/Russian North. Walter was instrumental in developing Canada's cooperation initiatives with other Circumpolar States and nurturing agreements with Russia on the Arctic. From 1966 to 1988 he was employed with the Northern Science Research Group of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the Northern Coordination Research Centre and, lastly, as Chief of the Circumpolar Affairs Division.
Walter also served as advisor/secretary/coordinator of the Working Group of the Advisory Committee for Northern Development. He became involved with the initiation of Arctic scientific exchanges with the USSR, the result of which was the signing of the Arctic Science Exchange Program in 1984. During 1988-1992 he was the Director of Circumpolar Affairs of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).
As a consultant from 1992 to 2000, Walter was directly involved with federal, territorial and non-government agencies in the establishment of the Arctic Council, the Northern Management Project by GNWT for the Government of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Institution Building for Northern Russian Indigenous Peoples' Project. He was Executive Director of the international Arctic Council Secretariat (1997-1998) and Chair of the Advisory Committee on the Humanitarian Assistance Project to Northern Russia, (1998 - 1999).
Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or any research dealing with Neuropathy will be greatly acknowledged by the family.
Condolences may be made at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ottawacitizen/obituary.aspx?n=walter-slipchenko&pid=180665603&fhid=30875#sthash.6k8T03NP.dpuf {khJul2016}
