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Death Notice

THOMAS CHARLES Ward

Published on 09/06/2021

THOMAS CHARLES  Ward

THOMAS CHARLES WARD

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Thomas Charles Ward. Tom passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully in his sleep, at home in North Vancouver on Friday 7th May, 2021.

Tom was born in the port of Liverpool, England on January 17th, 1943, the fourth of nine siblings. His father and namesake was a sea-going Chief Engineer and his mother Veronica, a full-time homemaker. He was educated by Jesuit priests at St. Francis Xavier grammar school in Liverpool before undertaking a five- year apprenticeship at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead. He then worked as a draughtsman in the design department before deciding to move to Canada.

Tom had by then met the love of his life, Margaret Smith, a feisty Irish girl with a twinkle in her eye and a penchant for Irish rebel songs. They were married on 5th April, 1965, and the very next day sailed across the Atlantic to start their fifty five year adventure in Canada.

That included a very successful career in the marine industry. They spent five years in Montreal where Tom worked in the Canadian Vickers design office, before moving west to Vancouver. He continued his work as a Naval Architect with Robert Allan Limited. Tom joined Seaspan International in 1971 as Construction Manager, and was then appointed first Operations Manager and then General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Seaspan’s subsidiary, Vancouver Shipyards. In 1993, Tom was appointed Senior Vice-President, Engineering, and later President and CEO of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation.

In 1999, Tom took the helm of his own company, International Marine Consultants Limited, based in North Vancouver.  The business provided technical and project management of complex capital projects, conducted feasibility studies and prepared business plans for improving existing and emerging ferry operations, in Canada and elsewhere.

Tom served two terms as Chairman of the Canadian Maritime Industries Association and was a Past President of the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering and of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. In 2013, he was awarded that year’s Medal of Excellence by the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering. He also earned an MBA at the Banff School of Advanced Management in Alberta.

But beyond his distinguished career, Tom’s enduring legacy is as a loving and much-loved husband, brother, uncle, scout, friend and neighbor, who was at his happiest playing the piano. He also had whimsical tastes in poetry and loved being on boats and fishing. His home saw a steady stream of visiting family and friends, and he was never too busy for somebody who needed his help or advice. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A life well lived.

Tom passed away almost exactly one year after his beloved wife, Margaret. They had been married for over 55 years, and are now together again, forever.

Tom’s body will be transported to England, to be buried alongside Margaret at Frankby cemetery, on the Wirral. Details of the funeral arrangements will be published shortly.


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