PIL Life Member, Bill Metcalfe, is the recipient of the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award in recognition of his contribution to his community. This award is presented on behalf of His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. The Caring Canadian Award, which was established by the former Governor General Romeo LeBlanc, recognizes individuals who volunteer their time to help others and to build a smart and caring nation.

Here is Bill’s narrative:

Bill Metcalfe is a man of many interests:  jazz, theatre, public speaking, and human nature, to name just a few.  But it is Probus that has become his great passion in recent years.

Bill grew up in Toronto, and served for five years in the Royal Canadian Air Force as an Aero-electrical technician.

In his professional career, Bill was a marketing and advertising executive, which might account for his deep interest in HUMOUR.  He spent the last 10 years of his career at the former Champion Road Machinery in Goderich, as Director of Marketing Services. Bill retired in 1988, and he and Mary then moved to Grand Bend.

But he continued his interest in business by working as a volunteer consultant in the Canadian Executive Services Overseas in China and Czechoslovakia. He also took an active part in various community projects around Grand Bend.

Bill and Mary have raised 9 children, and they now have 19 grand-children and 9 great grand-children.

In 1995, Bill joined with Don Tedford and others to form the Probus Club of Grand Bend and Area.  After serving a term as President of that club, Bill turned his attention to helping to establish other Probus clubs including the Women’s Probus Club of Grand Bend, and new clubs in Goderich, Exeter, and Forest.  He also facilitated the formation of new clubs in Strathroy and Naples, Florida.

Bill told me that what appealed to him most about Probus when he first learned about it, was that he wouldn’t have to do any work.  So I am a bit puzzled about Bill’s definition of ‘work’ or ‘no work’.

Above all, Bill is one of our area’s truly fine gentlemen.

The Executive of Partners in Learning can double-down on this praise for the “work” Bill did to create and support our organization. Well deserved Bill!