William "Bill" Estey Wotherspoon

The Early Years:

Came into the world June 21, 1942 in Calgary, Alberta to the delight of proud parents, Margaret and Tom. Of note June 21st was father's day and the first day of summer. Mom was born May 21, 1915 in Calgary and Dad was born May 13, 1913 in Edinburgh, Scotland. They married November 17, 1939 in Calgary. Sadly Dad passed away March 1989 at 76 years in Victoria, BC. Mom is still living there and nearly 93. Moved and lived a short time in Regina, Saskatchewan from August to December 1943. Moved again in December 1943 to Trail, British Columbia. Brother Don was born there in January 1945.

Moved one last time with Mom and Dad to Winnipeg, Manitoba in September, 1945. Actually Mom and I stayed in Calgary enroute for five months. Lived in Winnipeg's north end in a small rental house on Arlington Street until January 1950. Then moved to Riverview District to a brand new house on Clare Avenue. Survived the big flood in the spring of 1950. That flood initiated building more dikes along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers for future flood protection. And youngest brother Paul was born here in November 1952. Remained in Winnipeg (Riverview) until 1964 when moved on my own to Victoria, British Columbia.

The School Years:

Grades 1 and 2 at Faraday School in Winnipeg's north end

Grades 3 and 4 at Riverview School in Winnipeg's Riverview District

Grades 5 at Ashland School in Winnipeg's Riverview District

Grades 6 and 7 at Riverview School

Grades 8 to 12 at Churchill High School in Riverview District

Four years at University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus in Winnipeg graduating in May 1964 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCCE).

The Summer Jobs:

1959 at Devils Gap, a CPR resort on Lake of the Woods, Ontario as kitchen help.

1960, 61 and 62 with Manitoba Highways on surveying crews around Winnipeg.

1963 with Manitoba Hydro at Grand Rapids in northern Manitoba as soils and concrete inspector on the construction of a hydroelectric dam and reservoir.

The Full Time Work Years:

Left Winnipeg early June 1964 on CPR passenger train for Vancouver then on the CP ferry to Victoria, British Columbia for my first full time job as a "green" graduate Engineer. The job was with the federal government, department of transport, marine services as a Junior Engineer involved in marine navigational aids including light stations. Work was in the Victoria District which covered Vancouver Island and southern BC including the interior lakes, like Okanagan, Kootenay and Arrows. Boy the west coast was sure an eye opener for a guy who grew up on the prairies.

In the early years there were some memorable trips such as: my first helicopter flight and it was even over the Pacific Ocean off Victoria; inspecting the replacement of nav aids that were destroyed by a tidal wave from the '64 Alaskan earthquake that went up Alberni Inlet and apparently was nearly 50' high when it hit Port Alberni; a trip around Vancouver Island in January on a 140' ship in some of the worst weather in years; and being weather bound on a remote light station on northern Vanc. Is. for 2 nights and trying to sleep with the fog horn blasting 100' away. Fun educational times but certainly nothing that was taught in the old engineering building! Eventually had more direct involvement in projects especially after becoming a certified professional engineer (P. Eng.) of the province of BC in August 1969.

In 1975 moved with the family to Vancouver to the recently established western region headquarters of the Ministry of Transport Coast Guard as their Regional Civil Engineer. The area of work was all of BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and western NWT. Most of the work was still on the west coast of BC but about 15% was in Hay River, NWT, along the mighty Mackenzie River and the western arctic, especially Tuktoyaktuk. Over the years had more responsibilities, bigger projects, different job descriptions and titles but still with coastguard. For the most part enjoyed the work, travel, people and the west coast lifestyle. However the last four years or so after coast guard was moved from Transport Canada to Fisheries and Oceans things changed. Way too much politics, in fighting, battling for less dollars, downsizing and reorganizing constantly. So when the chance came for a buyout (six months short of 35 years required for a full pension) it was an offer I couldn't refuse. The last year and a half was pretty slow as only had five projects to do and my old position was transferred back to Victoria and filled by someone I even had to help train. And in October 1998 joined the ranks of the "senior" retirees and other than a few small jobs haven't been paid for work since.

The Family Years:

Met Barbara Maertens-Poole in May 1965 and a budding office romance developed as she worked in the Victoria office accounts section. She was born July 23, 1945 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, the youngest of Eileen and Leslie's four children. Barb and her parents moved from PA to Victoria in October 1961. Married Barb June 18, 1966 in Colwood, a suburb of Victoria. Have two sons, David, born January 15, 1967 and Michael, born August 5, 1969; both in Victoria. Rented in Victoria and Colwood until 1973 when bought brand new house on Peto Place in Saanich and stayed there till the summer of 1975 when job was transferred to Vancouver. Bought a house on Brada Drive in Coquitlam, part of greater Vancouver. Have three grandkids, (David's and his ex-wife Julie's), Darren born August 31, 1990, Tyler born August 14, 1991 and Erika born July 25, 1994.

In July 2003 moved from our Coquitlam house of 28 years to a brand new townhouse in Langley City. Still in the greater Vancouver region, but on the south side of the Fraser River and some 45 kms from downtown Vancouver. Enjoying the good life now especially as don't need to work for the money. Thanks in part to taxpayers.