Peter Wakefield Forster

May 24, 1926 - August 16, 2014

Peter passed away peacefully at Riverview Health Centre after a lengthy illness.

He is mourned by his wife Liivi (née Koppel), his daughters, Jane (London, England), Nici (Troy Milton) (Winnipeg), and Johanna (Winnipeg). He will be missed by his sister Angela Mary (Sue Adams) (London, England). He was predeceased by his father, John Wakefield Forster, and mother, Maude Forster (née Hounam).

Peter was born and raised in Newcastle-on-Tyne and educated at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh. In 1943, at the age of seventeen and a half he enlisted and trained at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The WWII hostilities ended before Peter saw active war service but he volunteered to go to India with the 19th King George's Own Lancers 1945-48 and then Egypt 1948-49.

After overseas service he returned to London and worked as a draftsman while studying at the Architectural Association. Upon completing his diploma at the AA in 1955, he began his professional career in London which, in turn, led him to immigrate to Montreal in 1957.

Peter joined the School of Architecture, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in 1959 at the invitation of the Director, John Russell. Retiring at age 70, Peter taught for 37 years: history of art and architecture; architecture theory; and design studio and beginning 1966 in the Department of Environmental Studies and was cross-appointed to the Departments of Architecture and Landscape Architecture until his retirement in 1997.

Peter loved being in the classroom and interacting with students in the design studio. Due to his reputation as an outstanding teacher, mentor, and colleague in the Faculty and the University he was highly sought after as a thesis advisor. In 1981 he received the Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching. Peter inspired his students to achieve excellence and many became well known practitioners and academics in prestigious firms and universities around the world.

In his memoir he writes "Lecturing was not a formidable task for me and I had no trouble preparing and presenting lectures because I had taken the Instructor's Course at Shandur. After that course I'd been appointed as an Instructor at the tank school and finished as a Captain with my third pip and plenty of teaching experience."

In 1960 he joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, successfully taking his Captain-to-Major exams in 1962 and becoming Second-in-command.

Books, carpentry, golf and music were important to Peter, and he enjoyed life in Winnipeg and over the years welcomed a host of interesting and diverse friends and students to afternoons and evenings in River Heights. It was a charming base from which Peter, Liivi and Johanna toured the world. As Peter said: it was a life well lived.

The family thank everyone at Riverview for their wonderful care. In lieu of flowers friends are encouraged to make donations to Riverview Health Centre Foundation, Humane Society, The Salvation Army, or a charity of choice.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 5, 2014 at 2:00 PM at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home 1291 McGillivray Boulevard.