William (Bill) McPherson Donald grew up in Midtown Toronto. His father owned a bakery on Manor and Yonge (north of Davisville); this explains his love for pastry and all things sugary.
As the youngest of three boys, Bill grew up in a family with lawn bowling tradition. The wooden bowl displayed in the WLBC glass cabinet belonged to his father.
After graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Bill taught geography at Willowdale Junior High School for many years. For a few years in the 70s, he joined Ship of Schools and took students travelling around the world, combining his love of teaching and travelling in one.
Bill has been a sportsman throughout his life. He enjoyed golf, curling, cribbage, snooker and of course lawn bowling. His passion and dedication to lawn bowling and WLBC is legendary. In the deep winter covid times of 2021, duty officer was needed to sterilize facilities. Bill, as the club’s life member, braved the snow banks on Beecroft in his wheelchair scooter to staff short mat bowling.
Bill always kept himself busy. For many years, Bill and Emma, another WLBC life member, ran the Cribbage at Edithvale Community Centre. When he moved to Canterbury Place at the age of 90, he volunteered at the building tuck shop, providing groceries and essentials to the residents.
He was a true fighter too. Last spring, at 91 of age, a day after the surgery to remove colon cancer, he called and emailed us saying he’s doing fine. Despite his numerous health issues, i.e. going through blood transfusion every other week, long time 2 years pace maker patient, he has never lost hope on humanity and passion for life.
His last will to donate organs for scientific purposes failed, as it was deemed unsuitable.
Nonetheless, his kindness, generosity and passion for life and lawn bowling lives on. The tournament he planned to sponsor this year on September 24 is now renamed Bill Donald Memorial Tournament.