Bill Brownridge

William Roy Brownridge, ‘Bill’ or even ‘Billy’ to old friends, born Oct. 14, 1932, in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, passed away peacefully and with dignity, on May 1, 2024, at the age of 91, with his loving and devoted family by his side.

Bill Brownridge was a distinguished, award-winning, nationally exhibited painter, and a best-selling author/ illustrator. He further added the roles of husband; supportive father; grandfather; determined humanist.

Bill is survived by his sister Gwendoline Brown, former spouse Bobbi Brownridge, their children David, Sophia, Nancy, Beth, and Boyd; by sons-in-law Chris and Rick; and by grandchildren James, Amelia, Cassidy, Rachel, and Rebecca.

Born on the Canadian prairies during the Depression, the youngest in the family, Bill faced many medical challenges.

He began to draw, then to paint, and the medium became an escape to the things he loved most: free movement; to explore life, and the landscape.

Bill entered the Arts program at the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art (PITA; Alberta College of Art; SAIT) in Calgary in 1953.

After graduation, the artist worked in commercial art until 1972 when he joined the PR/ advertising firm of Francis, Williams, and Johnson working as a graphic artist, then Graphics Creative Director. Notably, Bill oversaw design and production of the Calgary Stampede posters.

The artist had his own projects away from work, pursuant to his love of fine art. In the mid-70s he earned a Canada Council Grant to paint the vanishing railway architecture. In the ‘80s, Bill rendered a series of serigraph art prints used in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics Bid Book; a bid they won. In 1993, the artist re-designed the NHL Calgary Flames game uniforms resulting in the iconic ‘pedestal’ jersey (1995-2000).

In 1995 Bill left commercial art and formed ‘Heart of Hockey’ to market his fine artworks. The result was an inimitable impressionist art form, highly emotive, strong and provocative in composition, with a magical knack for creating joy and solace.

Born during the years of Tommy Douglas and universal health care, Bill’s humanist politics also came naturally. He supported many social causes and was interested in politics.

Bill went on to exhibit across Canada: Calgary’s Glenbow Museum, the National Museum in Ottawa, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. His paintings are found in galleries, homes, offices, and corporate headquarters across the continent.

The artist went on to write and illustrate a children’s book. In line with his values, loosely based on his childhood, the ‘Moccasin Goalie’ was born in 1995 and became a best-seller. Bill followed with two more books, creating a trilogy.

In 2022, Bill was recognized for his decades of community service and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in the category of ‘Builder’, referring to his promotion of grass roots hockey and its values through his paintings, books, school readings, community appearances, lectures, and projects.

That same year, the Alberta government presented Bill with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for his work in community service in that province.

Bill had other passions: he was a voracious reader, and he was passionate about his family. And as much as Bill liked debate, he also liked to laugh, and, just like his art, it too was inimitable.

‘One of a kind’ is a flippant phrase these days, but Bill was the real deal. He did what he said. And it was based on selflessness, and forgotten concepts such as truth, honor, and integrity. To Bill, these words were precious.

Donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders, and Kid Sport Calgary and Area, which Bill long supported.