After 40 years of tall tales and loving gestures in Iqaluit, Bill MacKenzie dies at his Apex home.
Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Jun 11/01) - A floral bouquet sits in Bill "MacGillivary" MacKenzie's chair at the Grind and Brew cafe.
For owners Brian Twerdin and Elisapee Sheutiapik, the colourful memorial seemed to be a fitting way to fill his favourite chair.
The popular Scottish bachelor was found dead on the roof of his home June 2. It's suspected he died of a heart attack. The exact cause of death will be determined in an autopsy.
He was 62 years old.
For the past five years, MacKenzie came daily for mid-morning and afternoon java breaks. Now the cafe seemed unusually quiet.
"There will never be another Bill MacKenzie," Twerdin said.
The former Hudson's Bay Company clerk was an Iqaluit landmark. His tales of arctic explorers and Roman mythology charmed many a friend and reporter.
People describe him as a generous pack-rat who loved good conversation and helping others.
When he missed two consecutive breakfasts with friends Scotty Henderson and Bryan Hellwig, friends went looking for him. Hellwig found MacKenzie, fire extinguisher in hand, dead on the roof.
"He was like a father to me. Very generous with vast knowledge of Frobisher Bay," Hellwig said.
A man of habits
Like all good Scots, MacKenzie had rules.
Coffee cups were poured three-quarters full to make room for cream. Baked goods had to have raisins -- always. Eggs were only eaten on Sundays.
"Breakfast was always the same. Fried tomatoes, burned rye toast and Earl Grey tea. It's not the same without him," said Asenath Kalluk, waitress at the Toonoonik Hotel and Restaurant.
In spite of the shock of MacKenzie's unexpected death, many found reasons to smile.
"He didn't like to fly," said his former boss and long-time friend Gordon Rennie, noting the irony in his body being flown south for his autopsy.
Another person said it was the only way "ol' Bill" would leave the North.
Rennie met MacKenzie in 1963 when the young beardless Scotsman joined the Hudson's Bay trading post in Apex.
"He was a very dapper chap. Liked to dance, very light on his feet," Rennie recalled.
"He never said much about his family."
It is not known if he left a will.
Giving personality
A young Joe Kunuk, now Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s chief executive officer, camped with MacKenzie and the Tikivik family some 30 years ago.
"He was always willing to do his share. I saw that same personality when helping the homeless and people in need. He is going to be missed," Kunuk said.
During his nearly 40 years in Apex and Iqaluit, MacKenzie held various tourism and government jobs and served in municipal politics.
He recently started a three-month contract with Statistics Canada and accepted a volunteer board position with the John Howard Society.
A public trustee is handling his Apex "ranch."
Homes for his turtle and birds were found. Neighbours Bill and Jan Riddell were keeping an eye on his dogs and two wild boars, for now.
He will be greatly missed by friends and former Hudson Bay employees Jim Taylor and Cody Keneally.
A memorial service is expected to be held sometime this week.
