“ Bill” Mainguy was born on July 27, 1905 to PhyllisCheckley of Ottawa and Philip Mainguy in Minneapolis in the USA but to Canadianparents! Dad moved to Walkerville Ontario which is a suburb of Windsor, Ontariowhen he was 9.These are the first pictures I have of Dad; first being held by his Dad and then by his Mother.

I had to show this picture of Dad riding in his father’s new 1905 Winton. I guess we know where the fascination of cars comes from. You may remember that his father (my Grandfather) was for some time Export Sales Manager for the Ford Motor Car Company in Canada.

Tragedy struck the family when Dad was six. His mother died giving birth to his brother “Neville”. His Dad later remarried and two half brothers were born; Bob and Pete .

Here’s a nice picture of Dad when he was 8 - already the little gentleman wearing a tie.

When Dad was in high school he started to be very active in baseball and became the star pitcher of his team( we have many newspaper articles of his achievements which are saved in a special scrapbook), Dad started at Queens University in 1920 where he graduated in Electrical Engineering with honors. He was chosen president of his graduating year and was also an outstanding athlete. Besides his baseball career, he also played football and basketball throughout his university period. Here he is in his basketball uniform at age 19.

Dad met my mother while he was on vacation at his summer cottage at Point au Baril on the Georgian Bay, off of Lake Huron. They were married on October 5 ^th 1929 and lived in Montreal. I was supposed to have had an older brother but unfortunately he died at birth. I came along later in 1933. Joan, my sister, was born five years later.

This picture was taken in 1928 at the Ford Motor Co. when hDad was 23 while he worked there as a summer student. After graduation from Queens, he started with the Shawinigan Water and Power Company where he spent his whole working career; starting as a draftsman andworking his way up to become President.

Over the years, Dad moved steadily up the ranks of the Shawinigan Water and Power Company. In 1943 he was appointed Personanel Manager and then in 1952 became Executive V.P. During the next 10 years not only did he continue to manage this important position but also became either an officer or directorof 6 other companies. All this came to a climax in 1962 when he became President, the company was nationalized by the Quebec Government, and he subsequently retired at the age of 57.

In 1971 my Mom and Dad decided to move from Montreal to a lovely home in Ottawa complete with swimming pool. They were very happy there but finally moved in 1989 to a Ottawa retirement home. My Mom passed away in  1994 while Dad lived until he was 94. A quick summary of a man I am proud to call my father.!

Dad 1941

Dad 1947

Dad 1963

Click here                                              to follow on to the next generation ( my three Uncles) who settled in Eastern Canada