William (Bill) John Snowdon, born May 3, 1931, in Saskatoon, SK, died October 29, 2024, in Victoria, BC.
Born to Jack and Effie Snowdon, Bill companioned his “little sister” Joan Bell (predeceased) as they moved to Regina, Calgary and Vancouver. At Lord Byng High School he met and escorted his future wife Evelyn Timms to the Graduation Dance.
Bill and Evelyn married in 1955. Bill joined the Vancouver Police Department in 1956, and Evie was teaching school in Vancouver. They lived in Richmond and in North Vancouver next to their great friends the Inkster’s. In 1970, to the joy of his parents, Liam was born.
Bill served in many branches of the Vancouver Police Department: patrol, detective and administration of the first 911 call centre in Canada. In 1974, he was promoted to Inspector and in 1978 he was seconded by the Federal Government to serve as the National Consultant on Preventive Policing. In 1980, Bill was selected to serve as the Chief of the Victoria Police Department and did so until his retirement in 1991. Bill had deep respect for Gretchen Brewin, Terry Toone, Doug Richardson and Janet Baird, who he worked with at this time.
For 34 years Bill volunteered in the Boys and Girls Clubs Movement, locally, provincially and nationally. He was national president from 2000-2003. He deeply admired his buddies Ralph Hembruff and Keith Pattinson.
After retirement he was a member of the BC Gaming Commission and the National Parole Board. Bill and Evie travelled the world after they retired by planes, trains and boats. They took along and met many great friends on their travels.
Evelyn passed away in November of 2012, and Bill moved down to the Dallas Road waterfront. He made many friends at Beckley Manor and Somerset House. During this time, Bill and Liam deepened their friendship and companionship, now living only a 17-minute walk from each other.
Along with Evelyn and Liam, Bill’s greatest loves were flying airplanes, boating in The Salish Sea, fishing off their cabin on Keats Island and playing poker. Travel and tomfoolery with the Mathis’, the Hollingsheads, the Engstads, the Jackmans and the Falls was also a priority.
In 1960, while exploring Vancouver Island, they made a right turn into Yellow Point Lodge and have joyfully continued to do so for the last 64 years. Bill “The Chief” will be missed by the costumed Second Week of July Gang. The intergenerational and cross border relationships formed at YPL have been and continue to be deeply precious to the Snowdons. A big part of their chosen family. Our lives have been more magical and joyful because of the vision and hard work of Gerry, Richard and Sandy Hill and all the fantastic staff at YPL.
Bill will be missed by his son Liam, his “Bill’s Gang” poker friends, his best-friend Keith Lewis, and his love group (Ruby, Eli, Moss, Dean and Medwyn). He was father to many. He will be remembered for his storytelling, genuine care and curiosity about people’s lives, and the sparkle in his eyes.
A memorial service will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, at 2:00pm.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
-
Holly Bailey
-
Eric Conroy Thank you for the announcement Liam. I go way back to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police when Bill was on the Board and I was their consultant. We put in a lot of time together working on programs for public education and Police community outreach. The two of us spent an extended time in Great Britain and Ireland visiting Police organizations there to harvest ideas that were brought back to Canada and implemented on a national scale. He was a terrific diplomat and a knowledgeable Police expert and we had a great time with our hosts. I have an amazing souvenir that he gifted me, as he gave me his gold Victoria Police Chief hat badge when the city discovered there was a naked lady on the corporate crest and ordered it removed from usage by the Department. I still wear it on my leather jacket!
I also have lots of great stories such as he and your Mom baby sitting my 8 year old son when I was forced to take him on a trip to BC for CACP. At 48 he still talks about your indoor pool and how great he was treated! Bill Snowdon was a wonderful friend and an amazing man. He had lived a life that reflected that! THE CHIEF was a great influence on me as I spent over 20 years in that job.
May his memory continue to survive! Eric Conroy
-
Rafael Schölermann My condolences to the family and friends of Bill. I had the honor of meeting Bill a few times in the early 1980‘s when going to Yellowpoint Lodge with the Pantages‘s. We were all just out of high school at West Van and we had so much fun with the older, but no less interesting and entertaining, generation. Back then with no internet or social media one just could be one’s self and have good connections. I am happy to have met Bill and enjoyed our conversations and an early fishing trip with a most beautiful sunrise at Yellowpoint. Good memories. Take care up there Bill.
-
Russ Clarke Dear Liam, I am so very sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. I know my dad, Bob Clarke, enjoyed the visits they had tho not frequent enough. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. Russ Clarke
-
Sandy Maloof Dear Liam, how incredibly fortunate it was to have met you and both your parents during our boating years. We are close friends of the Jackmans and Linda’s parents and you and I chatted at Gordon’s memorial service. Your family is much beloved by so many. I saw a picture of your dad on Linda’s phone a week or so ago and he looked thin but still quite spry. That he passed away not too long after that picture was taken is a sorrow for certain. Please know that Emmett and I will raise a glass in his and Evie’s honor on a daily basis…he was one of the great ones, as was your mother. Sandy and Emmett Maloof, Mercer Island
-
Mike & Deb Falls Our hearts are so sad to have lost such an incredible friend. We share your grief, Liam. We always had such wonderful visits, enjoying conversations reflecting his kind and witty personality. We were so fortunate to be part of his life. Our thoughts are with you during this time of sorrow. Sending much love your way. Mike and Deb Falls
-
Carly Haugen Thinking of you Liam, your dad was a larger than life character and I have many fond memories of him (and you) from my childhood. A life well lived but my heart goes out to you with this loss. He touched a lot of lives and he will be dearly missed.
Sincerely,
Carly Haugen (Moysey) & family
I am so deeply sorry for your loss Liam. Bill was a special person, and I have such wonderful memories of your Mom and Dad in both North Vancouver and here in Victoria.