Obituary of Wayne William Perkins

June 20, 1947 – Regina, Saskatchewan

January 11, 2025 – Calgary, Alberta

 

Wayne William Perkins, born on June 20, 1947, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 11, 2025, with Pam and their family by his side.

 

Wayne’s love for Pam was boundless. He took great pride in his children: Mark, Jenny, and Julie, adoring the partners they chose—Marla, Charles, and Rich. He cherished his grandchildren, Riley, Matthew, and Ellie, and held his sisters, Marilyn, Wilda (Peter), and other family members, close to his heart.

 

Wayne’s leadership skills emerged early in life. At fifteen, he was named the Saskatoon YMCA’s Leader of the Year. Whether co-captain of a national championship football team, Council President of the U of S College of Physical Education, or Saskatoon’s first-ever full-time Elementary School Physical Education and Outdoor Education Specialist, Wayne was strategic and long-term in his thinking.

 

At both YMCA Wanakita and YMCA Camp Chief Hector, Wayne built teams that worked strategically to enrich the camp experience for campers, families, and outdoor education participants, all while ensuring fiscal responsibility. He served as a board member in both Eastern and Western Canada, providing leadership to provincial camping associations and chairing YMCA Canada’s Resident Camp Committee.

 

In 1988, Wayne became the President and CEO of YMCA Calgary where his visionary leadership spurred remarkable growth over two decades. He effectively united staff, volunteers, and the Board to achieve significant developments in finance, facilities, and programs.

 

A key achievement was the opening of the Shawnessy YMCA, a groundbreaking partnership with the City of Calgary, the community, both Calgary school boards, and the Calgary Public Library, setting a standard for future collaborations. As one long-term Calgary YMCA board member noted, Wayne was “the right person at the right time,” and “leaves behind him a rich and powerful legacy”.

 

Wayne retired in 2010 after a brief term as President and CEO of YMCA Canada. Throughout his career, Perk, as he was affectionately known, also taught those he worked with to always take the high road, prioritize family first, listen actively, ask questions, and have fun!

 

In 2017, Wayne was appointed as a Companion to the YMCA Fellowship of Honour to recognize his outstanding national and international leadership, and to celebrate his executive ability combined with his warm and caring personality.

 

In retirement, Wayne and Pam led the Haitian Education Society, a non-profit organization that supports Lekòl Sen Trinite. Wayne inspired the school’s leaders to dream big and develop the necessary plans and actions to achieve those dreams.

 

As an avid outdoor enthusiast, Wayne enjoyed paddling adventures in Prince Albert National Park. If you wanted to meet him for lunch in downtown Calgary, it had to be on a run along one of the Bow River pathways. For his 40th birthday, he took up the sport of triathlon, and in 2010 he completed Ironman Canada. He also loved XC skiing and family cookouts.

 

Even as Parkinson’s gradually stiffened his muscles and slowed him down, Wayne and Pam continued to hike the hills surrounding their winter getaway in the Coachella Valley of California and biked for hours along the roads and trails of his beloved Waskesiu. Each Waskesiu day ended with a dip in the lake.

 

Wayne’s family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to all the staff on the Memory Care floor at Trico Living Well, where Wayne has lived under their watchful care and love for the past two years. Lovingly known as Mr. Perk, the staff have consistently gone above and beyond to engage with him and provide care. They even allowed him to make the occasional speech before the supper meal. Thank you!

 

To honour Wayne’s life, two celebration of life services will be held before the end of May: one in Calgary and another in the Toronto/Hamilton area.

 

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Wayne Perkins Leadership Center at YMCA Wanakita at www.zeffy.com/memorial-donations-wayne-perkins.

 

“We are all better, for the knowin’ of him!”

 

“Have a great YMCA day!”

 

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Wayne’s family here.

 

In living memory of Wayne Perkins, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.