Harry Stewart Ferguson
September 02, 1933 – October 17, 2021
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Harry Stewart Ferguson
September 2, 1933 – October 17, 2021
It’s 1958, and a plane bound for Toronto is airborne. Among the many hopeful people aboard the craft is Harry Stewart Ferguson, born September 2nd, 1933. He has decided to strike out to make a new life in Canada. Harry is ready to bid goodbye to his mother, Margaret (née Kempton), and father, William, in his hometown of Glasgow, Scotland, certain that his training as an electrical draftsman will help him find employment.
Not long after arrival, he meets a lovely young Toronto girl, Kathleen Ruth Lowe. The two of them enjoy taking part in amateur theatre productions and have a shared love of classical music. In 1959, Harry and Kathie marry.
As Harry begins his Canadian career, he works with the likes of Inglis Home Appliances, Bedard Gerard, the National Research Council, and Ontario’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism – the latter position allowing him to lead trade missions all over the world. After leaving public service, he works in merchant finance, and in gold, oil and gas mining.
Over the years, three daughters arrive. Lee (Godfrey) is born in 1962, Evelyn (Ferguson-Elliot) in 1965 and Kirsten (McKnight) in 1970. By the time the third girl arrives, the family is settled in Oakville, Ontario.
Flourishing as a successful entrepreneur, Harry enjoys the fruits of his labours – a sailboat moored at the Oakville Yacht Club, vacations with his wife and daughters, single malt scotch, and a growing collection of the works of Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns.
Harry devotes time to organizing many Burns Night Suppers over the years, and delights in giving the “Address to the Haggis” whenever he can. He especially loves doing so at The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, Princess Louise’s Regiment based in Hamilton, Ontario, where he founds an annual dinner to pay homage to the Bard.
Harry is instrumental in the establishment of a Scottish Studies Foundation Chair at the University of Guelph and serves as President of the Sir Walter Scott Society at the University of Toronto. He is also admitted as Knight Chevalier to The Canadian Commandery of the Order of Saint Joachim.
In the final decades of his career, Harry turns his hand to the restaurant industry. Having spotted the trend early on, he works to expand a chain of sushi kiosks, opening locations across Ontario.
Even well into his eighties, Harry enjoys working five days a week and sailing Lake Ontario on weekends, never wanting to slow down enough to retire.
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Harry Stewart Ferguson died peacefully, after a brief illness, at Sunrise of Oakville Retirement Village in his 88th year. He leaves behind his wife Kathleen, his daughters Lee, Evelyn and Kirsten, his sons-in-law Patrick, Paul and James, and his grandchildren Samuel, Russell, Emily, Katie, Jack and Sophie. Businessman, restauranteur, sailor, storyteller. Lover of life, travel, British history, Sir Walter Scott, Robbie Burns, books, music, a well-told joke and a cold beer with friends. A fiercely proud Scot. Although small in stature, he always managed to fill whatever room he entered. He will be missed by his family, both here and abroad, and by the countless friends he made throughout his life journey.
The family wishes to thank all the staff at Sunrise of Oakville Retirement Village for their excellent care of Harry.
Visitation will be held from 7 – 9PM on Friday, October 22nd at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Rd. West, Oakville ON L6K 1E1. All are welcome.
A funeral service will be held at St. Jude’s Anglican Church at 2PM on Saturday, October 23rd, 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, regrettably, the service at St. Jude’s will be by invitation only.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Harry’s name to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, or to The Argyll Regimental Foundation, 175 Longwood Road South, Suite 400, Hamilton, ON L8P 0A1.
“When Death’s dark stream I ferry o’er/A time that surely shall come/In Heaven itself I’ll ask no more/Than just a Highland welcome.” – Robert Burns
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Harry Stewart Ferguson September 02 1933 October 17 2021..
Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Oakville, Province: Ontario