William Ernest Walter Brassington

It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of William Ernest Walter Brassington on December 15, 2024. Bill was born in Vancouver General Hospital on January 13, 1939. He was the loving son of William Nathan Joseph Brassington (1917-1989) and Gladys nee Rumley, (1920-1988) He was stepson to Dolores and brother to Beryl, Larry, Danny, and Barry, stepsister Marlene and stepbrother Elliot. Bill leaves a big hole in the hearts and lives of his wife, Janet Marie Routledge, son William David Brassington, daughter-in-law Janey Lee, and grandchildren Ty and Asia who are all so thankful to have been with him during his last hours.

Bill is described as a gentleman by those who knew him. He is remembered for his quiet competence, intelligence, wit, kindness, loyalty and the high standards he set for himself. Be it learning to golf, fly a plane, or defending workers rights, he put his all into every project he undertook. Many remember him as a role model.

Bill had a clear vision of the world he thought we should work collectively to create. It was a bold vision built on a commitment to global justice centred around equity, fairness, inclusion, solidarity and collective action. And these were the values that Bill lived by and brought to his work, his community, and his family.

After spending time in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Bill was a founding member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Over the course of his career, he served in many positions at the union headquarters in Ottawa. He played a key role in transforming the PSAC from a loose alliance of staff associations into an effective labour union. Bill returned to BC in the early 80’s to be closer to his father. He retired in the position of senior staff rep in the BC office of the Canadian Employment and Immigration Union, a component of the PSAC. Just as Bill helped to shape his union, his experiences in the labour movement influenced the man he was.

Bill was deeply moved by what he witnessed during a solidarity tour to Nicaragua in 1985. He became a champion of international worker to worker solidarity and his approach was effective and practical. Recognizing the need to build a permanent labour focused non-governmental organization, Bill helped to create Co-Development Canada, a home for trade unions in BC to build international partnerships with their counterparts in the global south. Bill understood that these relationships raise awareness among BC workers about conditions in the global south that impact their own standard of living. There is no doubt that thousands of workers both north and south have benefitted from Bill’s commitment to the belief that an injury to one is an injury to all.

Bill also believed that politics matter, that we advance social justice by actively working to elect governments that share our values. For more than 20 years Bill was involved in local politics through the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA) and provincially through the Burnaby North BCNDP. Over the years, Bill held positions on the Burnaby North executive, including treasurer and provincial council delegate. He was actively involved in every election campaign.

Bill had many interests. He loved to read, write, travel, play golf, and spend time with friends but most of all he loved Janet and his family – Bill Jr., Janey, Ty and Asia. They were the centre of his world.

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held on Saturday February 8 at 1 pm at the Operating Engineers Hall, 4333 Ledger Ave. Burnaby.