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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BAKER, Colin McKechnie, P.Eng - After a fascinating career as a consulting engineer travelling over much of the world, Colin McKechnie Baker, P.Eng., passed away peacefully on July 22, 2026, at Creekstone Care Centre at the age of 91. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn 'Carlie' (nče Healey) and by his sons, Jaimie, Robson and Ryan.
'Dad' was born in Montréal and grew up in Sherbrooke, QC, the second son of Dr. W. E. Baker, Lt. Col., CAF, (1916 - 1945) and Audrey (nče McKechnie). The family followed 'Grandfather' across Canada through ON and then Calgary, AB. After 1945 they settled in Victoria, BC, where Dad played rugby and graduated from Oak Bay High School, while Grandfather finished his career as an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Physician at Victoria General Hospital.
Thankfully for Dad and his older brother J. Richard 'Dick' (1931-1999), they lived only a few blocks from the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. The two Baker boys quickly developed a lifelong passion for both navigating coastal waters and sailboat racing. Both moved to Vancouver in the early 60s and joined the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (RVYC).
Dad started an engineering degree at Victoria College, then completed it at UBC (BASc., Mechanical, '58). At UBC, Dad was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. He loved skiing on Mt. Baker with his UBC friends. He also participated in the University Naval Training Division (UNTD), where he served aboard aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent in Halifax, NS, working on the last of the piston-engine fighter aircraft, the Hawker Sea Fury. After graduation, he registered as a Professional Engineer and started work in the manufacturing and transportation industries. He fondly remembers working for Canadian Pacific Railway, travelling Canada and witnessing the change from steam to diesel power.
Sadly, 'Dad's mother' Audrey passed in 1962. A few years later, Grandfather married Mary Allison (nče Hough) in 1964, who became affectionately known as "Aunt Allison" to the Baker brothers and their families.
Having been recruited by Boeing, he designed trim tabs on commercial 737 jets in Everett, WA. He returned to Canada to change careers and work in the Pulp and Paper Industry. That decision served him well at the position he carried for most of his working life: Director of Business Development, H. A. Simons (now Wood PLC). Dad retired in the mid 1990s, having opened up the Asian Market for Simons and also both improving existing relationships in Canada (e.g. MacMillan Bloedel) and forging new ones in the U.S. (e.g. Weyerhaeuser). He loved Asia, where some clients became good friends in such places as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. Dad had an encore career as Western Regional Manager for Advanced Dynamics Company Ltd. (now EPIQ Machinery), travelling closer to home and serving clients across BC, WA and OR.
Professionally, Dad served in roles throughout his career with APEGBC (now EGBC), Canadian Pulp and Paper Association 'CPPA' (now FPAC), PACWEST Conference, and the International Brotherhood of Migratory Peddlers (IBMP). Dad and his IBMP colleagues were very involved organizing CPPA's annual PACWEST conference, alternately held in Whistler, BC and Jasper, AB. Throughout his career and professional roles, he also stayed in touch with his UBC Engineering classmates and enjoyed numerous annual reunions.
Outside of work, Dad was also an active Scout Leader. He was a key volunteer on the committee that built Scout Cabin 174 on Hollyburn Ridge in 1984, which still stands and has been used by over 1,000 groups of young people. His brother Dick led Dillingham Construction and supported the Scouts by loaning critical cement pouring equipment airlifted by helicopter.
Dad was an active family man as well, working with Mom to raise three active boys and an even more active Golden Retriever (from his brother's family). He also loved listening to the bagpipes, highland dancing, and attending annual Robbie Burns celebrations with friends. Our parents' ethos was simple: whatever opportunities they had; we would get better. We skied at Whistler (often visiting our cousins at Dick and Lorna's cabin), surfed in Maui (at the Healey family Puamana beach house), and raced sailboats as well as cruised in power boats, including the Healey family's Caminante at RVYC.
Dad shared his love of music, books (John le Carre? "barn-burners"), movies, comedy, cooking, travelling, hiking, watersports, snow sports, and of course planes, trains and automobiles with his family, and instilled those gifts in his sons. His family continues those traditions, always keeping him with them. His family would sincerely like to thank the wonderful staff at Creekstone for their thoughtful and excellent care of Dad.
A Celebration of Colin's Life will be held Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 3 p.m. at St. John's Vancouver Anglican Church, 5350 Baillie Street (at West 37th Ave.), Vancouver. If planning to attend, please advise a member of his family.
Walkey & Company Funeral Directors 604.738.0006 (The North Shore News 21 Oct 2026)
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