29 April 1944 – 29 March 2023
On 29 March 2023 Colin was suddenly taken from us.
He is survived by his wife, Pat; his children, Neil and Carolyn (James) and his sister Christine.
Colin emigrated from Kent, England, where he had qualified as a carpenter and cabinetmaker in December 1976. Pat and the two children followed in February 1977. By then Colin had already become involved with Kin which he attributed with saving his life in 1991.
One of the first projects he was involved in was the ground breaking for The Kinsmen Reh-Fit Centre. In later years he was the Kin member on the board and when, following back surgery, he was recommended to go to physio he decided to do Reh-Fit instead. That was where they found he had a large growth in his heart and without surgery he had about 6 months. After that part of his heart was man-made! During all this surgery he still managed to keep 100% attendance at Kinsmen meetings. He has served as President more than once, Treasurer and District Governor an unprecedented three times. He is a life member, has won many awards including the Hal Roger Fellowship Medal.
Prior to his surgeries Colin had had his own business making curved staircases which then became too heavy work for him. Unable to find work in Winnipeg, he took a position teaching woodwork at Arctic College for a year and was then offered a position, in Cambridge Bay, as housing inspector for the NWT where he stayed for about 6 years with only a few trips home. He loved fishing & hunting but only for food or clothes, etc. When he returned to Winnipeg he started working for Art Upholstery and stayed there until he retired.
During his retirement he and Pat were able to do some travelling from Hawaii, Mexico, USA, Caribbean, England, Wales and Greece as well as most of Canada.
A drop-in memorial will be held on Colin’s 79th birthday, 29 April 2023, at Kin Centre, 161 Grandin, Winnipeg R3H 0A8, 2pm – 4pm. Come and share your Colin stories.
In lieu of flowers a donation to the Winnipeg MS Society would be welcome.
Friends and family are invited to share memories and condolences on Colin’s memorial page by using the comment field below.
R.I.P.brother
Sorry to hear of Colin’s passing.
His willingness to share his knowledge and fellowship was always welcome and appreciated during our time in Kin together.
Condolences to family and friends.
Hi,
I am David Simmons, Colin’s Brother-in-Law ( Pat is my sister) and I am in the UK.
I want to share my memories of Colin. I loved him very much
Colin was dating Pat and I was very young, Pat is ** years older than me and more years older than our brother.
Colin used to “Bribe “ us with Smarties (Candy for you Colonists) and it worked.
Around the time I was 14 or 15 Colin had a motor Scooter and he was crazy enough to let me drive it around my Parents garden until I crashed it, nearly joining them in the living room through the Patio door.
He got me my first car, and more importantly he and his friend kept it going! I was 17 then.
It wasn’t long after that Pat and Colin, Neil and Carolyn Emigrated to Winnipeg.
I had started work, and as soon as I could, saved the air fare to visit them.
Colin was already committed to Kinsman by the time I came, I was 18 or 19 and my amazing Brother -in Law arranged for me to drive a brand new Ford Thunderbird in the Kinsman parade. You have no idea how a teenage Brit felt doing this.
Over many many visits Colin involved me in some Kinsman events, attending meetings, fishing tournament to The Par ( I still wear the sweatshirt)
He cared so much for Pat Neil and Carolyn and I am grateful to have known him.
Thank you Kin for all you gave Colin