In Memory of

Reg

Thompson-Gillard

Obituary for Rev. Reg Thompson-Gillard

THOMPSON-GILLARD,
The Rev. Fr. P.R. (Reg) passed away peacefully at Casselholme Home for The Aged on Sunday, February 28, 2021 in his 91st year. Philip Reginald Thompson-Gillard was born at Watrous, Sask. on the 19th September, 1930. The only son of the late Mr. and Mrs. P.T. Gillard and grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gillard and the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter Thompson Sr. and the twin brother of Mrs. P. Rita B. Patry, M.M.M., C.D. and Bar of North Bay, Ont. Reg received his public school education at Glenridge, a little country school in rural Saskatchewan and his high school in the town of Watrous graduating in 1950. He grew up on the family farm at Amazon, Sask. Reg was baptized into the Christian faith in Holy Trinity Anglican Church at Simpson, Sask. on September 27th, 1931 and was confirmed in the faith in All Saints’ Church, at Watrous on April 22nd, 1945 by the late Rt. Rev. W.T.T. Hallam, Anglican Bishop of the Saskatoon. With the completion of his high school education, Reg entered the University of Saskatchewan and Emmanuel College at Saskatoon, in preparation for the ministry of the Priesthood to the Anglican Church in the fall of 1950. Ascension Day, May 27th, 1954 Reg was made a deacon in Rugby Chapel on the University Campus and a year later, May 1st, 1955 on St. Philip and St. James Day, was ordained to the priesthood in the Anglican Church at St. John’s Cathedral, Saskatoon by the Rev. S.C. Steer. During the summer months when he was an undergraduate in college, Reg served three student missions at Keatley in 1951, 1952 and at Perdue in 1953. He covered the missions on foot and bicycle. Reg served in many parishes over the past years. His first parish was the Meridian Parish, Macklin, Sask. where he was the incumbent from 1954 to 1958 in the Diocese of Saskatoon and Provost, Alta. which was in the Diocese of Edmonton. In January 1965 Reg entered the Chaplaincy Services of the Canadian Armed Forces which took him to many postings across Canada. He served as a Padre at C.F.B. Currie Barracks, Calgary; C.F.B. Petawawa, Ont.; C.F.B. Esquimalt, B.C. at Work Point Barracks, Victoria with his last posting to C.F.B. Bordon, Ont. From Bordon, Ont. Reg returned to civilian life, becoming a rector of the parish of Wawota, Sask. in southeast Saskatchewan, serving several rural parishes in the Anglican Diocese of Qu’Apple, namely the Parishes of Assiniboia, the Greater Parish of Oxbow with nine congregations and the Parish of Rosetown, Kyle-Tuberose. Reg had had a long and varied ministry serving most of that ministry in the rural areas of southern Saskatchewan amongst the farming communities that he loved so much. In the various communities where Reg served he had many interests amongst them the Masonic Lodge, all the bodies of the Scottish……….He was an active member of Rotary International in the Assiniboia Rotary Club, serving as Chaplain and Director, a member of the Monarchist League of Canada, and the Saskatchewan Humane Society and Wildlife. In nearly all the parishes was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion serving as the local Padre. He enjoyed playing a little golf in the summer and curling down at the local rink in the winter when time permitted. He was a bachelor. Reg is survived by his twin sister and only sister, Mrs. P. Rita Patry, M.M.M., C.D. and Bar of North Bay, Ont., eight cousins and several second and third cousins in various parts of the country. Cremation has taken place and burial will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in the Watrous Cemetery. For online condolences or tributes please visit: https://fotheringham-mcdougall.com/