FYDELL, WILLIAM REID "BILL"
May 23, 1926 ~ May 17, 2016
Our family is sad to announce that Bill passed away peacefully with loving family members by his side on May 17, 2016 at Kelowna General Hospital, one week before his 90th birthday. Bill was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in
the High Park area. As a youth, attending Runnymede Collegiate, he was a gifted athlete participating in football, track and field and lacrosse. He had an extreme passion for boxing and spent many hours at the Toronto YMCA where he also played the piano for exercise classes. He was a member of the High Park Swim Club, excelling at competitive swimming, becoming the sprinting star of the club and one of the four best in Canada in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events. His summers were spent as a lifeguard at Sunnyside
Beach on Lake Ontario. Bill continued to exercise
throughout his life and believed sports participation
prepared him for business and career success. After completing the S.S. Kresge Company, Store
Management program, Bill successfully managed stores in the Toronto area. A Canadian Tire Franchise was his goal. Overcoming the odds, he succeeded in owning his first store in Fenelon Falls, ON. Subsequent stores included Ajax, ON and Montreal, QC (Verdun). A proud Canadian Tire Dealer for 16 years, he created a new vision for retail management.
Skiing was an important part of Bill's life. Without any
previous skiing experience, he taught himself to ski in his late thirties and introduced ski racing to his 3 children while living in Montreal. He discovered the Okanagan Valley when his son, Tom, attended Whistler summer ski racing camps. After spending summer vacations in the Okanagan Valley, Bill retired and moved his family west to the relaxed lifestyle of Kelowna, BC, in 1972. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to Mortgage Investing and Land Development in the Okanagan. He built and operated Lakeside RV Park at Cook and Lakeshore Roads (now Playa Del Sol). After selling the property he focused his attention on successfully managing his own investment portfolio, for the remainder of his long life. Bill’s winter passion was spending the ski season with
his family at their Big White chalet. He passed his love
for skiing on to his grandchildren and generously provided an opportunity for them to learn to ski. Bill was an avid
skier, retiring at the age of 83. He had fond Big White memories after 40 years of skiing and supporting two
generations of ski racers. In his later years, Bill enjoyed walking and cycling on the Mission Creek Greenway and studying financial and business publications, never tiring to discover new opportunities.Bill will be remembered for his love of a challenge, determination, strong work ethic, passion for competitive sports, great sense of humour and quick wit.
Predeceased by his father Melvin, mother Grace, brother John, sister-in-law Joan and nephew Robert. Bill will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by his
devoted wife of 62 years Marjorie, daughters Deborah Ashley (Doug), Patricia Fydell-Borg (Mike Borg), son
Tom (Deb Clem) and grandchildren Noa and Asia Borg.
Extended family members include niece Barbara and
nephew Ken of Ontario and niece Margaret of Quebec.
He will also be missed by his faithful canine companion, Sammy.A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Donations to the Heart and Stoke Foundation in Bill’s memory are appreciated.