Blair Newhouse

and Bob Newhouse. Blair’s grandparents homesteaded in 1905 and owned a half section of land right on the Montana border where they farmed wheat and also ran the Borderland School unit. Blair’s father was the town secretary and notary public, and his mother was a war bride form Portsmouth England.

After graduating from Rockglen High School, Blair attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton, graduating with a Bachelor of Education, with minors is History, Phys Ed, and Economics. His

first teaching assignment upon graduating was in Whitecourt Alberta in the early 80’s. This was also when he met Gloria Rathwell, a fellow teacher, who he married in 1983, and they settled in Winnipeg. After a few years of teaching, he found an ad in the yellow pages and saw an opportunity for business within the tech industry. Blair was then hired by Homestead Computers, where he worked training famers on how to use agricultural software to increase their yields. During this period, he also

travelled to London England where he worked for Wang computers. After returning to Canada, his first marriage ending, he drove west in his Volkswagen Scirocco eventually ending in up

Victoria BC. In the fall of 1989, he met Joan Wade, who became his spouse of over 25 years. Blair was working for Intrepid Theatre (Fringe Festival producers) in a business capacity at that time, but soon

moved on to Press Procipic/Softwords, where they developed ‘COZY’, an early iteration of email.

Blair’s work at Softwords would take him on frequent travels, including Australia, Germany, England, Scotland, Finland and Morocco. In 1996, Blair and Joan welcomed the birth of their daughter Claire, and Blair shifted his focus to family and local consulting work. Blair was a devoted husband, father, and provider. He enjoyed family life and contributing to the to the community, hosting Saturday morning soccer games for the local children in the neighbourhood when Claire was young.8 Apart from being an active and respected member of the business community in Victoria for over 30 years, Blair’s interests and friendships were eclectic. He often recounted that as a child he would spend hours lying on his back in the tall prairie grasses staring up at the clouds. Perhaps it is partially owing to this dreamy, other worldly landscape that he had time to develop a rich imagination. So, it is not surprising that he enjoyed writing for both for pleasure and as a creative outlet, especially in mid-life and onwards. He enjoyed reading and writing fiction, had written at least eight or nine short stories, and often had two or three writing projects on the go. He had a gift for dialogue and was encouraged by his creative writing teacher at UVic to publish some of his more recent work. Over the last 8 years of his life, Blair had also found a sense of grounding through attending weekly classes at the Kadampa Buddhist Meditation Centre in Victoria with his close and dear friend Jim. Physical activity was also intrinsic to his nature. He

was naturally athletic and enjoyed daily exercise and sports including tennis, golfing, and swimming.

Blair was not someone to ruminate about the past or to dwell, whether in business, sports or in his general life. He was always looking forward, and he encouraged this same optimism in most

everyone he met. His cheerful and calming nature brought a sense of ease to those who knew him and his ability to take charge of situations would eventually contribute to the success he had in business. One of Blair’s gifts was his ability to calm and reassure those around him. Whenever he was in a room you felt that everything was going to be okay. His reassuring and cheerful disposition will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Blair is predeceased by his Mother Eileen, Father Bob, and brother Dave. He is survived by his two brothers, Keith and Greg, spouse Joan, daughter Claire and nieces Megan, Gillian, and Erin. In lieu of a memorial in Victoria this spring, the family has decided to hold the memorial in Blair's hometown of Rockglen, Saskatchewan. Celebration of Life will be held at Wesley United Church on July 21, 2024 at 2:00 pm, following the interment of his ashes. Lunch to follow at the New Horizon Drop In Centre. We apologize for this change in plans, especially as we know that

some of you may have wished to share your memories of Blair at the Victoria service. Should you wish to write something, the family would very much like to hear your remembrances of Blair which we would read, with your permission, at his memorial. Please forward your emails to Claire Newhouse at:

[email protected] Anyone wishing to make a donation in memory of Blair, can please do so through the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Thank you.