It is with deep regret that we announce the passing Of Bill Otway on October 17th, 2010, in Merritt B.C..
Bill was a long serving active member of the BC Wildlife Federation with an involvement of over 50 years.
Bill first came to the Federation from the Port Coquitlam club where he had fought a long battle to save the Coquitlam river from the impacts of a gravel removal operation. He became Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation in 1973 serving the membership in that capacity through the terms of 4 presidents.
He was acknowledged across the country as the most effective executive director of all the provincial wildlife federations.
In 1980 he was awarded the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s “Sportsman of the Year Award”.
Bill started the very successful celebrity BCWF fund raising dinners bringing the stars from the TV show Dallas to BC. Following his service as executive director he was heavily involved in the BC Wildlife Federation’s Saltwater Fisheries and Native Affairs Committees. He was also involved over the years in the gun control fiasco. Bill also worked for the federal government as Western Sports Fishing Ombudsman continuing his involvement and dedication to BC’s fishery’s resource and the angling community.
Since his retirement from the service Bill worked tirelessly for the Federation in protecting the fish and fish habitat of this province. He was deeply involved in getting the Cohen inquiry established to look into the loss of the 2009 sockeye runs into the Fraser river.
Our sympathy goes out to Bill’s family His family’s loss is also our loss.
Men like Bill Otway come along all to seldom and are sorely missed when they are lost.
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