THOMAS SILL FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Frank grew up on a farm in the Plum Coulee area. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Manitoba in 1970 and began a teaching career after taking some summer school courses. In May of 1973 he quit teaching and began his articling with Sill Streuber Fiske & Company in Morden. In 1974 he opened the Winkler office and in 1976 he graduated receiving his CA designation. Frank became a partner in the Winkler office in 1978 and he retired from the office in 2010.
Frank was active in the community in various areas. This included being involved with the formation of The Winkler Community Foundation as well as the Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation. In the business sector he was involved with various positions on the Winkler Chamber of Commerce, the Business Improvement Area and Winkler Harvest Festival. Being involved in fundraising is a common element for Frank and he was involved in such areas as foundation fundraising events, the MRI project, Manitoba Winter Games, Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and Viterra Bonspiel in the local area. Frank enjoyed being involved in the area of sports and supported his children in many ways on the field or in the arena as a coach, manager and executive member. He is also an active member in their local church in many different ways. Frank enjoys the sports of curling and golf.
Frank joined the Thomas Sill Foundation in 2012 and served as the Foundation's 8th President for 3 years and retired in 2017.
Frank and Viola are enjoying their retirement in Winkler which includes spending time with their children and seven grandchildren.
Milt McLean retired as president of the Thomas Sill Foundation on December 31, 2009. This concluded 22 years of service to the Foundation as a founding governor. During that period he also served as vice-president and treasurer.
In 1966, Milt earned his chartered accountant designation and four years later became a partner in the accounting firm of Sill, Streuber, Fiske & Co. He subsequently became its managing partner.
Service to the community has included board membership with the Manitoba Heart & Stroke Foundation, the River Heights Community Club and the Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club, all of which he served as treasurer. Milt was also on the board of the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association and coached minor hockey in his neighbourhood.
Milt and Scooter have been married since 1963. They have 3 children and 7 grandchildren all of whom they enjoy immensely.
On July 31, 1994 Keith Urwin resigned from the board of the Thomas Sill Foundation. Mr. Urwin was a charter member of the Board and an enthusiastic supporter of foundation philanthropy.
Originally from England, Mr. Urwin came to Canada in 1957 and was employed in the financial industry. At the time of his retirement a successful career had culminated in his position as Assistant Vice-President and Manager of the Winnipeg branch of Montreal Trust.
While pursuing his career in various Canadian locations his volunteer activities supported service clubs, chambers of commerce, school boards and the Salvation Army, which was especially dear to him. His service to the Thomas Sill Foundation displayed both a caring and analytical mind that drew on his experience in business and in his service to community.
Mr. Urwin now resides near Ottawa. We wish him a long and happy retirement, with our thanks for his service to the Thomas Sill Foundation.
Norman Fiske was a charter member of the board of the Thomas Sill Foundation. He was elected president in 1987 and served in that capacity until his retirement on December 31, 2002.
Mr. Fiske was a long time business associate of Thomas Sill as a student, employee and partner. As a chartered accountant he served his firm and profession with distinction and was awarded his Fellow of the Chartered Accountants designation.
Gifted with a special sense of compassion, Mr. Fiske understood the challenges of philanthropy, the work of the charitable sector and the importance of volunteerism. He invariably found goodness in the requests for funding that appeared before the meetings which he chaired.
Mr. Fiske is also blessed with a profound zest for life and will, no doubt, thoroughly enjoy his retirement. We are grateful for his years of service to the Thomas Sill Foundation.
Sam Andrew grew up on a farm in the rolling hills of the Pembina Valley near Morden. He earned an agriculture degree from the University of Manitoba, and then changed his career upon articling with the Morden office of Sill Streuber Fiske & Company. In 1975 he graduated as a chartered accountant and became a partner of Tom Sill and his colleagues in 1978.
In 2001, upon the merger of Sill Streuber Fiske & Company with BDO Dunwoody, Sam moved to Winnipeg and became the region's managing partner for BDO.
Curling and golf have always been important to Sam, and he excels in both. He volunteered his time in various capacities to his curling and golf clubs. Sam has also enjoyed travelling, particularly to unconventional destinations and by interesting means.
Sam joined the Thomas Sill Foundation as a governor in 2008 and retired as the Foundation's fourth president in 2010. During his tenure Sam always demonstrated empathy and understanding for the challenges facing charitable organizations. His chairmanship of meetings was efficient and fair.