Obituary of Andrew GILLILAND, P.Eng. FEC

April 10, 1939 – London, England

February 20, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Andrew William Gilliland of Calgary, AB passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 20, 2020 after a two-year fight with prostate cancer at the age of 80 years.

Andy was born in London, England, on April 10, 1939 and immigrated with his family to Winnipeg in 1955, and he almost immediately went off to Queen’s University where he graduated in Civil Engineering in 1961. Upon graduation, Andy joined Commonwealth Construction in Winnipeg, and then joined Supercrete (now Lafarge) in 1966. In 1980, Andy moved his family to Calgary to lead the Calgary operations of Supercrete. In 1984, he joined the National Research Council, Industrial Research Assistance Program and moved to Edmonton in 1988. Andy retired in 2005.

Throughout his career, Andy made a lasting impact on the communities in which he lived because of his passion for Canada, and his unwavering commitment to Professionalism and his Code of Ethics. While in Winnipeg, Andy was a leader in the Manitoba engineering community through his many volunteer roles at the provincial level culminating in his term as APEGM President in 1978. While in Winnipeg he was also involved at the national level with the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (now Engineers Canada) and was President of the Canadian Prestressed Concrete Institute in 1976. After moving to Calgary and Edmonton, Andy continued his involvement in the engineering community serving on many committees as well as on Council with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta with his life-time contributions to his profession recognized when he became a Fellow of Engineers Canada.

As part of NRC, Andy passionately promoted innovation and commercialization of research in Alberta and Canada for almost twenty years. His belief in partnerships between governments, academia and industry are demonstrated by his critical work in the creation and establishment of the $120 million National Institute for Nanotechnology, in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), the Government of Alberta and the University of Alberta. In 2002, Andy won the Alberta Science and Technology Leadership (ASTech) Foundation award for Outstanding Contribution To The Alberta Science And Technology Community.

In 1987 Andy met the love of his life, Maribeth on a blind date on Valentine’s Day. They had thirty-three years together with some of their best times spent together in the mountains. In his spare time, Andy was a founding member of The Baker’s Dozen gourmet club in Winnipeg which he participated in even after moving to Calgary and Edmonton. He devoured books on Canadian history and loved to spend time with, and supporting his family, encouraging all of us to live life and to "go for it". His other passion was the Rocky Mountains - hiking often at Lake O’Hara, Lake Louise and Sentinel Pass. Andy believed in giving back whether it was through volunteering with the Engineering community, ringing bells for the Salvation Army at Christmas or the countless hours he gave to mentoring dozens of people to help find their passion, purpose and profession.

Andy is survived by his loving wife Maribeth, his sons, Bill (Lavina), Jim (Susan), and Jamie (Kirsten); his daughters, Sue (Scott) and Patricia (Darrin); his twelve grandchildren; his brother John (Laura), his first wife Edith and his extended family in the UK.

A Private Celebration of Andy's Life will be held on Friday, July 10, 2020. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Andy’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Salvation Army, 1731 29th Street SW Calgary, AB, T3C 1M6, on line at www.salvationarmy.ca, or by phone 403-410-1112. Thank you to everyone who touched him along his cancer journey and The Salvation Army which Andy supported and volunteered with his entire life.

In living memory of Andrew Gilliland, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD SE, CALGARY, AB, T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403- 256-9575.