Reverend Canon George William Sutherland
In the early morning of November 8, 2023, The Reverend Canon George William Sutherland passed away peacefully at Muskoka Landing in Huntsville at the age of 98. He had celebrated his birthday on September 29 (picture shown) and had been doing quite well, but, unfortunately a week later, he fell and broke his hip which resulted in a quick decline.
Canon Sutherland leaves behind his family of seven children: Mark (Lynn), Greg (Michelle), Marion (Tom), Anne, Janet (John), Robert, and Catherine (Jimmy) along with 15 grandchildren and three great grandchildren and is pre-deceased by his wife Jean.
Both of his parents were born in Great Britain. His father, William (Bill) was born in Caithness, Scotland who then emigrated to Canada in 1909 at the age of 11. When WWI broke out in 1915, Bill joined the 43rd Cameron Highlanders out of Winnipeg after lying about his age and fought in the trenches in France (in a kilt) and was later injured at Vimy Ridge. He met his wife-to-be, Jennie, after being sent back to England to recuperate.
Jennie was born Surrey, England, but moved to London early on and was schooled in a private school, later gaining entrance to Oxford University. Bill and Jennie were married after the war in London and then returned to Fort William (now Thunder Bay) where Bill had previously lived.
The Canon was born on September 29, 1925, in Fort William joining older brother Johnny and sister Joan to complete the household.
Growing up, the Canon followed in his mother’s footsteps, becoming an excellent student and a prolific pianist. By the age of 10, he had accompanied his mother, who was also a talented opera singer, in numerous public concerts, and, then with further studies, he became an accomplished vocalist, organist and choirmaster as well.
In his late teens, the Canon moved to Toronto and studied at the University of Toronto at Trinity College where he earned his Honours BA and BD. It was during this time, he discovered Muskoka when he spent a summer on Lake of Bays as a Divinity student at the small Anglican church in Port Cunnington.
Upon graduation, he married Jean, and his first posting was in Wawa, Ontario building a new church and rectory. After a little more than a year, he was released to do graduate work at Columbia University in New York for a year and then returned to Wawa to finish the buildings. When those were completed, he was offered a posting in Huntsville which he gladly accepted.
That 1954 move ended up being life-changing for the Canon. He and Jean ended up starting their family in Huntsville and spent 35 glorious years in the rectory at 7 River Street right across from All Saints. During those years, the Canon was also the rector of several rural churches (Grassmere, Ravenscliffe, Ilfracombe, etc.) along with sitting on numerous town, district, and provincial committees.
Anyone who shared a car ride with him in those days will remember one of his great refrains as he would look out the window at the beauty that surrounded him and say: “I just can’t believe they actually pay me to live here!”
He lived a wonderful life doing what he loved to do and being the best person, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, anyone could have ever wished for.
Many thanks for all of the great care he has received over the past three years: Dr. Varieur, Dr. Zhu, Dr. Johnstone, the Huntsville Palliative Care Team, Ontario Home and Community Care, North Simcoe CCAC, Closing The Gap, Dr. O’Halloran and the entire staff on Home Area One and the first floor of Muskoka Landing.
A Public Funeral will be held at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Huntsville on Monday, November 27, 2023, at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.