We regret to advise of the death of Major Donald James Wilson, CD (Ret’d) on 21 April 2019 at Forest Valley Terrace in Orleans, ON at the age of 80.
Don made the military his life and proudly served his country for 35 years in the Canadian Army as a Canadian Military Engineer. After receiving his Engineering degree from the University of Manitoba Don’s career took him across Canada and on United Nations peacekeeping assignments. Within Canada he had postings in Victoria BC, Chilliwack BC, Winnipeg MB, Trenton ON, Chatham ON and Ottawa ON, Outside Canada he had peacekeeping tours to the Gaza Strip and to Cyprus as UNFICYP Force Engineer, Don was Chief Instructor at the Banff National Cadet Camp for several years and Head of Military Support for the Canadian Expedition to Study the Alpha Ridge (Operation CESAR) in 1983. He retired in Ottawa in 1993.
Don was a strong supporter of both the Military Engineers Association of Canada (MEAC) and the Canadian Military Engineers Association (CMEA). At the local level, he served as the President of the MEAC National Capital Region Chapter 1993-94 and then volunteered as National MEAC Treasurer 1996 - 2001. After the formation of the CMEA he carried on these responsibilities as National CMEA Treasurer 2001 - 2009. As National Treasurer, Don was instrumental in transferring the financial books of the MEAC to a modern electronic financial application that greatly facilitated management, accounting and auditing of the Associations’ books.
Don enjoyed keeping fit and relished the great outdoors participating in mountain climbing, downhill and cross-country skiing, backpacking, and cycle touring, as well as coaching minor soccer and managing peewee hockey.
Friends and Family are invited to visit at Beechwood Cemetery and Funeral Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa from 12 - 2 p.m. on Friday, 3 May. Graveside service and interment in The National Military Cemetery at Beechwood will follow at 2 p.m. Join family and friends at Don's local, the Blackburn Arms, 2586 Innes Rd. starting at 3 p.m for a celebration of Don's life, story telling, and a toast.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Cancer Society. Online Condolences can be sent to Beechwood.
