William Charles Reimer

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of Dr. William (Bill) Reimer’s passing, on July 15, 2024. Bill, son of the late Peter and Lilian Reimer, was born and raised in Vancouver. A lifelong tinkerer, fixer, organizer (at least of his academic work), he had a curious mind and took a genuine interest in other people the world around. Bill completed his BA, MA, and PhD at UBC before accepting a teaching position in 1972 at Sir George Williams in Montreal (now Concordia University) in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology. He remained an active part of the department life until his retirement in 2012.

During his time at Concordia, Bill became a central figure in rural research, dedicating his life to the study and improvement of rural communities. His research—which spanned decades—shed light on the socio-economic challenges faced by rural Canadians and provided insightful, practical solutions for sustainable development. Bill's work was always grounded in a deep respect for the voices and experiences of rural residents as well as the many students with whom he worked.

He met and married Frances (Fran) Shaver in 1967. They settled in Vancouver, continued with their academic studies, and birthed a daughter (Daegan). In 1972 they left the comfort of family and friends for Sir George Williams University and Montreal, where a son was born (JP). Two years later they bought a home on Ile Bigras (a small suburb outside Montreal).  

Bigras became the hub of their family life for the next 46 years. A meeting place for neighbourhood friends (old & young), including Christmas caroling walk-abouts, murder mystery progressive dinners on New Year’s Eve (Bill wrote the scripts), and a home-made version of sugaring-off where we tapped our own maple trees. Family was always important to Bill, so this period included frequent visits to the west coast where our children and grandchildren were prospering; one-on-one visits from grandchildren who flew to Montreal on their own; and two different camping trips in our 1984 Westie with grandchildren: one from Victoria, BC to Montreal and another from Montreal to Saint Johns, NL. 

Following his retirement in 2012, Bill remained engaged in his teaching and research activities. He taught an on-line version of his course on Canadian Society and participated in several research projects. When he died, he was still working actively as the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation archivist, providing invaluable information and reflections on CRRF’s history through monthly contributions to their newsletter.

In 2020, he and Fran packed up, sold their home, and moved back to Vancouver to be closer to their children and seven grandchildren. Visits, picnics, and dinner parties were frequent and camping trips in the Westie with the younger set of grandchildren continued. Bill loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. The move was timely and joyful in spite of the pain associated with leaving behind our dear friends and colleagues.

A witness cremation for family and close friends took place on Friday August 2 at Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services in Aldergrove. 

Please join us for the Vancouver Celebration of Life for Bill Reimer. It will be held at West Point Grey United Church (4595 W 8th Avenue) at 2:00pm on Saturday September 21, 2024. The service will be available through Zoom (the link is available at: https://wpguc.com/worship/ ). A reception with refreshments, conversations, and stories will follow in the Community Hall and Fellowship Room.

Please join us for the Montreal Celebration of Life for Bill Reimer. It will be held at Concordia University’s Loyola Chapel (7141 Sherbrooke Street West) at 2:00pm on Sunday October 20, 2024. The event will be available through Zoom (details to follow later). A reception with refreshments, conversations, and stories is planned.

Bill, a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend, and colleague, will be missed.