Keith William Parsonage

Keith William Parsonage was born and raised on a fruit farm in the small town of Grimsby, Ontario in the Niagara Peninsula. His parents, Douglas and Jennie, were teachers and instilled in him a lifelong love of learning and gardening. After graduating from Neuchâtel Junior College in Switzerland, Keith attended the University of Toronto, receiving a Bachelor’s of Applied Science with honours in Industrial Engineering. He then went on to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration at McMaster.

His early engineering career was in the private sector working for E.D. Smith, small family-owned food processing company and later for a major multinational. He subsequently joined the Research and Productivity Council of New Brunswick as a management consultant engaged in projects throughout New Brunswick and South East Asia.

Keith joined the Canadian Public Service, beginning at what was then the Federal Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce. He held a succession of management positions and often represented the Canadian industry’s issues, interests and capabilities both domestically and internationally. He retired in 2009 from his position of Director General at Industry Canada, now known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Not one to relax, he continued to work, taking on the position of Managing Director of the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Communications and Information Technology. Here he helped to foster industry-academic research collaboration as well as commercialization and student entrepreneurship initiatives. In late 2010, Keith started K. Parsonage & Associates providing Executive Coaching and Mentorship to Public Sector Managers working through the CCI Leadership Institute. His passion for mentoring and coaching continued in his role as volunteer career mentor for the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization. He also was a member of the Board of Governors for the Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation.

When not working, Keith was an enthusiastic gardener, a devoted animal lover, and a skilled photographer. He was a passionate world traveler and was known by family to provide extensively detailed itineraries for all of his trips abroad. He also hosted students from Libya, Niger, Japan, and China. Though he hid it well, he loved to sing and attend musicals. He was a dedicated father to his children, a devoted husband to his wife Sharieh, and, on many occasions, a light-hearted grump.

His wit, sense of humour, and sharp intellect will be greatly missed by friends and colleagues across the globe.

Keith is survived by his beloved wife, Sharieh Reza; his children Geneviève, Alexandra and Douglas; his stepchildren Arman (Laura) and Kayvan Lira (Rebecca); his grandchildren, Michael, Nicole and Tyler Parsonage and Oliver Lira; his sister Kathryn (Kalee) (Gerald Le François); and his nieces Meghan Laidlaw and Rebecca Danard.

The family would like to thank Dr. Laurie, Nurse Sylvie, Caroline, and the entire team at the Cancer Centre for their care and compassion.

Donations may be made in his name to Lung Cancer Canada or to a charity of your choice.