Donovan Allan Wishart P.Eng., M.Sc., FEC

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Donovan Allan Wishart, on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Don will be sorely missed by his surviving family, including his wife of 54 years Cora “Dot” (nee Wilson); daughter Amy (Michael) Beanlands; sons Czar and Thor (Elaine); sister Marlene Batke; sister-in-law Dorothy Wishart; 3 grandchildren, and multiple nieces and nephews.

Don was born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba to Allan and Anne Wishart on April 7, 1934, and grew up in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. He played junior hockey in Flin Flon, Manitoba with his brother Ken and, despite being under signing rights with Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and the Detroit Red Wings, he chose education over a professional hockey career. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at Colorado College, where he captained the NCAA Div. 1 Hockey Championship team in 1957, and Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

In 1962, he met his future wife, Cora, when he was the Construction Engineer for the building of the Wyoming National Bank in Caspar, Wyoming. He and Cora returned to Canada in 1965, married in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, and eventually settled in Balgonie, Saskatchewan. He continued his engineering career at Keith Consulting and Saskmont Engineering before establishing his own firm, Donovan Engineering, in 1981. He was recognized for his lifework, which included saving the “sinking” West Wing of the Saskatchewan Legislature building in 1981, with the 1995 APEGS Engineering Achievement Award. Don retired in 2003.

Don was appreciated for his community involvement, having served as Mayor of the Town of Balgonie from 1978 to 1983, and serving countless number of volunteer hours for the United Church of Balgonie. Throughout his life, he was an avid hunter, curler, and attendee at the “Y”, and was known for his sharp wit and ability to get things done right.

A Celebration of Don's Life will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue in Regina, SK on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made, if desired, to the Hospitals Foundation of Regina, 1874 Scarth Street, Regina, SK, S4P 4B3.