Bill passed away very peacefully on March 19, 2021. He leaves behind his loving wife Jan, having shared 49 years of marriage. Bill leaves behind his two daughters, Debbie and Leslie Chisholm and his step-daughter Lynn Pendergast, all from a previous marriage.
He served with the RCMP, Calgary and the Saanich Police Dept. from 1951 until his retirement in 1990. Bill was a strong advocate of community policing. Highlights of his career included along with fellow police officer, Don Hanson the organization of the Calgary Safety Roundup TV program and the Calgary School Patrol Band and Drill Team. Serving on the Saanich Police Force, he organized and hosted “Cablevision’s You and the Law” program. He created the “S.P.O.T.” club (Saanich Police Organization of Teens), plus the “Victoria Police Chorus”. Bill was the founding member of “The Village Squires Barbershop Chorus”. He sang for many years with “The Totem Tones” Barbershop Quartet donating to charities. In his later years, he promoted and played old-timer hockey enjoying the exercise and fellowship. Gardening was one of his favourite pastimes, supplying his wife with perfect homegrown produce. Daily exercise was also a priority in his life, competing in two marathons and bike riding until he was 89 years old.
This man’s energy and enthusiasm made a positive impact on many people.
There will be no service at Bill’s request. In lieu of flowers, donations to “Cops for Cancer Tour De Rock” https://www.tourderock.ca/
may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallgardens.com
44 Responses
Jan and Family
I am sorry to hear of Bill’s passing, we would talk about hockey when I would occasionally see him at the gym
Lynn and Laura
I am so sorry to hear of your dads passing. My most heartfelt sympathies to you both as well to Debbie and Leslie. Take good care at this difficult time.
Pat Sinclair
I was sincerely sorry to hear of the passing of your father and my friend. He acomplished a lot of things in his life especially for the community.
I ha thepleasure of bumping elbows with him on the ice, and he didn’t arrest me .Ha! Ha!
I also had family in the force.
I wish you and all the family the very best for the future
Best Regards Your friend Rob Clifford
Dear Jan. So sorry for your loss of Bill . Many happy memories of him . Always a pleasure to spend time with . Enjoyed playing hockey with and against Bill over the years . Steve & Ann Merriman
Dear Jan and family,
I was very saddened to learn of Bill’s death. His involvement in the Sidney Retreads’ Hockey Club was invaluable and I greatly enjoying playing the game with him. He was always energetic, kind and tanned—the latter adding extra brilliance to his amazing and welcoming smile. A true and good old-fashioned gentlemen, both on and off the ice. In the last few years, I’ve been fortunate to maintain our friendship, catching up with him on occasion—that smile!—when we met while biking. My thoughts are with you, Jan, and your family. I will miss your dear Bill.
Jan,
We are sorry for your loss.
We wish you well in the future.
Bob and Pat
Dear Jan
I was very sorry to learn of Bill’s death in the Times Colonist today.
My sincere sympathy.
Edith Brown.
Bill will be missed by all who knew him. As well as a tireless, influential community-oriented advocate of law enforcement, our friend Bill was a wealth of experience and dedication in establishing the “Retreads” Old Timer Hockey Club on the Saanich Peninsula. The obituary only scratches the surface of his accomplishments.
We wish Jan and family many happy memories.
Jan and family
Judi and I will never forget Bill’s moving participation in the memorial celebration of my my mother’s life – Dorothy Ross – followed shortly thereafter by Alan’s. We still delight in sharing the story of Bill’s hugging of Mom, and Dad’s surprise, when they unknowingly rang the doorbell at 824 Darwin Avenue while looking for a house to purchase in Victoria – a house which they bought and cherished. His retention of the Grade 5 autograph book signed by his teacher, (Mom), so long ago in Prince Albert was amazing and ever so touching. We hope that these memories will bring a smile to your face.
Hugo and Judi Ross, Duncan, BC
Dearest Jan and family of Bill Chisholm. I was so very sorry to read about Bill’s passing however I was heartened to read of his very full life. I am not at all surprised that he maintained good physical health and continued to enjoy music and gardening until the end of his life. I was a camera operator on “You and the Law” when Bill hosted and produced the show for Victoria Cablevision. He was a fantastic ambassador for policing and a major force in bringing community together with the police. He was always a most enthusiastic person with the Victoria Police Chorus and Barbershop groups, I remember well. And, that smile!!! I won’t forget it. I am sure you will all treasure your beautiful memories of Bill, as I know I will. We were fortunate to have Bill in Victoria for as long as we did…he brightened many lives!