MACKAY, Robert B. Robert (Bob) Barnett Mackay of Nanoose Bay, BC passed away peacefully on April 1, 2010 holding the hands of his wife and children. Predeceased by his parents, Aurore and William Mackay, Bob is survived by his university sweetheart, Gail, children Theresa (Nevin Pettyjohn) and Rob (Michelle Currie) and grandchildren Bryn and Tess Mackay-Pettyjohn and Anna and Sophie Mackay. Bob was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan on November 18, 1939. A prairie boy who loved the sea, he joined HMCS Venture as an officer cadet at age 17, later resigning to attend the University of British Columbia. President of the Commerce Undergraduate Society, Alpha Delta Phi fraternity member and named to the Sigma Tau Chi fraternity, Bob graduated from UBC in 1964 with a B. Comm (Marketing) and was awarded the Matthew H. Henderson Shield for Most Outstanding Graduating Male Commerce Student. Starting his marketing career in product management in 1964 with the Imperial Tobacco Sales Company in Montreal, he later moved to Proctor and Gamble in Toronto. He then joined McKim/Benton & Bowles Advertising as an Account Executive for General Foods, followed by Scott Paper in Vancouver in 1968 as the Canadian Marketing Manager (Consumer Products). Returning to university for a second time, Bob moved his young family to Edmonton, graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Laws in 1976 and then spent a year articling at Davis & Company back in Vancouver. Opening his own law practice, Bob persuaded the BC Bar to sanction Marketing and Advertising Law as a specialization. While managing his firm, he instructed law and marketing until 1982 at Capilano University. Along with Red Robinson and Tom Peacock, in 1988 he was a founding member of the West Coast Chapter of the National Advertising Benevolent Society. In 1989 Bob joined Russell & Dumoulin as Associate Counsel and in 1994 he moved to Gowling, Lafleur & Henderson as the managing partner, rising to the role of Counsel in 2004. Among his many accomplishments during his time at Gowlings, Bob was an instrumental figure in the formation of Tourism BC as a Crown Corporation. Upon retirement, Bob and Gail logged many hours flying all over the world and enjoyed annual Spring trips to Portugal. Bob never forgot his childhood love of the sea, spending time with his family cruising from Desolation Sound to the San Juan Islands in his boat called White Banner, named for the flag flown by the Clan Mackay in pre-Bonnie Prince Charlie days. Bob believed in making a difference. Throughout his career he volunteered countless hours to the marketing, advertising and law communities as well as many philanthropic associations, including the following leadership roles: National Executive Committee Member and Western Canadian Representative, Canadian Bar Association. Committee Member, International Bar Association. Canadian Jurisdictional Council Member, Inter-Pacific Bar Association. Committee member, Law Society of BC. Legal Counsel and Member of the Board of Directors, Association of Broadcast Communicators. Member of BC Region Council, Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and Advertising Standards Council. Honorary Legal Counsel of the Royal Navy Sailing Association. Founding Solicitor of the Western Magazine Awards Foundation. Patron of the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards of The Canadian Native Arts Foundation. Member of the Editorial Board for IP Asia Law Reports. Member of the Board of Directors, Tourism BC. Selection Committee, BC Seniors Citizen of the Year Award. President, BC Chapter of the American Marketing Association. Chairperson of the Board-Elect, American Marketing Association (International) and member of the Editorial Review Board, AMA Marketing Magazine. Vice-Commodore and Member of the Board of Directors, Schooner Cove Yacht Club. Chairman of the Board of the Seniors Lottery Association of BC. Founding member of the West Coast Chapter of the National Advertising Benevolent Society and member of the NABS national Board of Directors. BC and Yukon Division President and Canadian National President of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Commander of the Victoria Commandery of the Sovereign Order of St. John, Knights Hospitaller. Bob's unending commitment to helping his community resulted in several awards and honours: Wayne A. Lemburg Award for Distinguished Service - American Marketing Association (International). Extraordinary Service Award - Council of Tourism Associations of BC. Industry Partner Annual Achievement Award - Advertising Agency Association of BC. Recipient of the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award. Recipient of the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Medal. Inducted into the National Advertising Benevolent Society Honour Roll. Nominated to the Order of Canada and twice nominated to the Order of BC. We will never forget you, Dad/Papa. Wherever you are now, we know you are telling the best stories and making everyone laugh and laugh. Bye for now. Private burial by request. Memorial service to be held at 2pm on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at St. Ann's Academy Auditorium (entrance near Academy Close and Blanshard) in Victoria, BC. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to either of Bob's favourite charities: Sovereign Order of St. John, Knights Hospitaller at jzoel@shaw.ca or The Duke of Edinburgh's Award at www.dukeofed.org/Supporters.
  
 

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