By Ian Holmes

‘He was Nanaimo:’ longtime bathtub commodore Bill McGuire passes away

Dec 27, 2018 | 1:06 PM

NANAIMO — The harbour city lost a tireless community builder who helped make the annual bathtub race what it is today.

The passing of longtime Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society commodore Bill McGuire was announced on the society’s Facebook page Dec. 23.

Current commodore Greg Peacock became emotional talking to NanaimoNewsNOW about McGuire and his legacy, saying McGuire always put Nanaimo first.

“That was Bill’s legacy. Community, Nanaimo, team building, community building,” Peacock said.

Peacock said McGuire took part in the first ever bathtub race between Nanaimo and Vancouver in 1967 and completed the grueling voyage the following year.

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He said McGuire’s longtime role leading the bathtub society solidified the annual Nanaimo Marine Festival as the city’s signature event.

“If it wasn’t for Bill’s commitment to the races, to the tubbers, to the community, all this stuff, we probably wouldn’t be doing bathtub racing the way we do it now.”

Peacock said discussions have already begun to establish a public memorial of some kind to honour McGuire.

“He was Nanaimo,” Peacock added as he choked back tears.

McGuire, a lifelong Nanaimo resident who had a long career as a realtor, was recognized at the annual polar bear swim Boxing Day — one of the many local events McGuire backed.

Former Nanaimo mayor John Ruttan knew McGuire for more than 50 years.

Ruttan said McGuire was the co-founder of the Serauxmen Service Club and helped gain the necessary support to build Serauxmen Stadium.

“Bill did these events without looking for praise or credit, he wasn’t anxious to get his face in the paper or voice on the radio, he did it because he wanted to do it.”

Ruttan said he’ll always remember McGuire for being a selfless, kind and genuine person.

“I don’t ever remember Bill being upset or angry at anyone, he always had good things to say about people. He was a very sincere individual and will be sadly missed,” Ruttan said.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes