We regret to advise of the death of Major Ian Aubrey Hayward, P. Eng. (Ret’d) on 10 June 2017, peacefully after a lengthy illness, at Longwood, Nanaimo, BC at the age of 91 years.
Ian was born and raised on the farming country of the Cotswolds in England and received his education at Westwood's Grammar School in North Leach. At the outbreak of WW II the British Army needed more Engineers and enrolled students who excelled in Math and Science as cadets in a four-year Engineering Education Program. Graduating from this program as an engineer, he and his fellow cadets then were trained as soldiers with the Black Watch in Scotland before he was posted to the Royal Engineers as an Officer. He was an undefeated middle-weight boxer and pistol shooting champion.
As the war ended, Ian was sent overseas to India, Malaya and then Singapore where he presided over the interned Japanese army soldiers during their restitution of Singapore. Ian returned to England in 1950 and left the Army, joined the British Colonial Service and became the Senior Engineer in charge of Singapore.
In 1954 Ian decided to take a look at Canada. He settled in the Vancouver area and became a well respected electrical engineer. While working for BC Hydro, Ian’s survey of the Peace, Parsnip and Findlay rivers by canoe ultimately led to the location of the W. A.C. Bennett Dam.
At the same time, Ian joined 6th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers in North Vancouver and was their Commanding Officer 1963-64. He started his own electrical engineering firm, Ian Hayward Assoc., designing and creating electrical systems for hospitals and large shopping malls in Vancouver. He was also responsible for the lighting on the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver. His specialty, however, soon became the design and construction of high power line projects across the rugged, mountainous terrain of BC. This soon led to the creation of his company Hayward International and the involvement in unique power line projects around the world such as the Andes of South America and the mountains of Papua, New Guinea.
In his mid-70s he spent time in the Yukon building a power line from a dam south of Mayo to bring electrical power to Dawson City. After this he enjoyed traveling around the world before finally settling for good to enjoy the beachfront home at Evening Cove.
Ian was a lifetime professional member APEG.BC and a founding member of the BC Wildlife Federation.
At Ian's request, there will be no memorial service. At a later date, there will be just a simple gathering of his family to sprinkle his ashes in his favorite place. On-line condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home. (khOct17}
