Donald Fowler

Donald Clare Fowler, aged 73, sadly passed away on September 22, 2023, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his devoted wife Patricia, his son Ryan, and daughter-in-law Marsha. Born on November 13, 1949, in Kinley, Saskatchewan, Don attended Perdue High School before earning a degree from the College of Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon in 1971. Over the course of his career, Don held various roles including Programmer at the Canadian Wildlife Service, IT Manager at the City of Saskatoon, IT Consultant at Deloitte Haskins and Sells, Senior IT Designer at Spectron Computer Corporation, and Strategic IT Planning Manager at the Government of Alberta. Don retired in December 2014 after leaving an indelible mark on the field of information technology.

Throughout his life, Don received numerous accolades and achievements for his work. These included his pivotal role in developing Game Bird Survey Analysis and Camping Permit Analysis computer systems for the Saskatchewan government, as well as creating software for the Transportation Industry that became an ABEX Award Finalist for Best New Saskatchewan Product. Don’s contributions were also recognized by the Bak Hsing Kwoon Kung Fu Association, which honored him with an Outstanding Contributions award. Furthermore, Don played a significant part in establishing the online presence of the Association of Canadian Informatics in Government, earning him high acclaim. He received over 1,000 Recognition Awards for the personal websites he created online and excelled in maintaining his own website, Gadzillionthings.net, which consistently ranked among the Top 10 Most Awarded Personal Homepages. Don even garnered attention from local and national television for his website, CdnHeros.ca, which facilitated the reunion of a lost wartime ID bracelet with the soldier’s family.

Don leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. He was preceded in death by his father, William “Bill” Alexander, in 1994, his mother, Emma Elisabeth Marion, in 2009, his brother, William “Bill” Robert, in 2018, and his sister, Elizabeth Anne “Betty,” in 2019. Don and Pat celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary on February 26, 1972. Together, they savored countless moments, from raising their beloved son Ryan to embarking on picturesque canoe rides on serene lakes and the Saskatchewan River. They cherished memorable vacations in the mountains, and their adventures took them on exciting road trips across eastern Canada, the west coast of the USA, as well as throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

In honor of Don’s memory, his family kindly requests that donations be made directly to The Canadian Cancer Society in your region. You may also express condolences, share cherished memories, and view photographs of Don by visiting the website http://www.sandsduncan.ca.