Obituary Overview
Grieve, William Andrew (Willie)
Willie was born in Penticton, BC, lived in Barbados and Denmark before the family moved to Markham, Ontario where he graduated from Markham District High School. After receiving his BA in political science from Carleton University in 1979, he decided to follow his passion for music and toured Canada as a professional musician.
In 1981 Willie moved to Saskatoon and in 1984 he received his LLB. from the University of Saskatchewan. He was an active leader in the Saskatoon community participating in and directing concert bands, musical productions and organizing large sporting events including opening and closing ceremonies for the 1989 Jeux Canada Games and the 1991 World Junior Hockey Championship.
Willie was an innovator and remarkable leader in the field of public utility and telecommunications regulation. Some of his significant professional accomplishments include chair of the Saskatchewan Communications Network, appearing as an expert witness before the Government of Canada and the CRTC, working with the governments of Poland and the People’s Republic of China in areas related to regulation and competition policy, and producing educational programs for the World Bank for utility regulators in various countries. He is published in a number of regulatory and economics journals in the United States, Japan and Austria.
In 1998, Willie moved to Edmonton to become vice-president of regulatory affairs with Telus. He played a substantial role in the regulatory evolution of Canada’s telecommunications sector. In 2008 he was appointed as the first Chair of the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) where he led the organization’s efforts in utility regulation in Alberta and fostered a culture of devotion to public service and sound and principled decision-making. In 2012, he received a Queen’s Counsel designation for his contributions to the practice of law.
His community involvement continued in Alberta, where he held senior governance roles with the Canadian Association of Members of Public Utility Tribunals, MacEwan University, co-chair of the Concordia University College of Alberta’s advisory board for business management, and Edmonton’s Fringe Theatre Adventures.
Willie was predeceased by his father, Walter in 1997. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, his son, Rob (Toronto), his daughter Sarah (Ryan Chawner, Toronto), his mother, Inger (Saskatoon), his sisters Anne Jane (Saskatoon/Toronto) and Barbara (Peter Gerber, Grand Blanc, Mich.), his very special nieces, Vanessa (Eric Sifferman, Grand Blanc) and Lena (Kent MacDonald, Fernie, BC) and his grand nieces Olivia and Margaret Sifferman, and Mila MacDonald. He is also survived by cousins, Michael Grieve (Vancouver, BC) Vibeke Folden-Rehder(Germany), Niels Brockstedt (Denmark), Therese Brockstedt-Kvamme (Norway), Carl Brockstedt (Denmark) and their families.
A memorial service will be held at the Betty Andrews Recital Hall in Allard Hall at MacEwan University on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 2:00 pm. Pastor Tim Posyluzny officiating.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to MacEwan University, Alumni and Development, PO Box 1796, Edmonton, AB. T5J 2P2 or to Fringe Theatre Adventures, ATB Financial Arts Barns building, 10330 84 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 2G9
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of William Andrew Willie Grieve 2018..
Source: South Side Memorial Chapel
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta
I am saddened to hear this just today.We were friends with the family when they lived in Markham. My brother Wayne was good friends with Willie.Again my condolences to Barb and his family.