Peter Hugh Aykroyd

Aykroyd, Peter Hugh; B. App. Sc., P. Eng., U of T, Class of 1945, DPA (Carleton), ‘68. ‘Big Pete’, Born, Montreal, Que., Fev. 5th, 1922. Died, 1:15am, July 4th, 2020, peacefully, surrounded by family in his ancestral farmhouse at Railton, Ontario on acres purchased from the Crown in 1821.

Pre-deceased in 2018 by his Franco-Ontarian wife of 69 years, Lorraine Helene Marie Gougeon. Mourned by sister Judith Harvie, sons Daniel and Peter, daughter in law and beloved confidante Donna Dixon, (his ‘Hoke’), grand-daughters Danielle, Belle and Stella, brother in law Andrew, nieces and nephews.

A career of public service in Ottawa and beyond. Surveyed roads in Ontario as a teen; assembled Bren guns at Inglis factory during WW II; After U of T hired by National Film Board as a unit production manager producing over a hundred documentaries ’48-‘53; National Capitol Commission, Chief Engineer, Gatineau Parkway, constructing 60 miles of scenic roads – ’53-‘61; Director of Historical Preservation, N.C.C., saving dozens of heritage sites from developers and establishing Ottawa’s greenbelt – ’61-‘64;

Director of Public Relations for 1967 Centennial Commission, commissioned the song ‘Canada’, caused designers to compete for the anniversary’s symbol – The Triangular Leaf won. Dispensed Commission Grants to communities across the country in excess of one hundred fifty million dollars – ’64-‘67; Privy Council Office, Advisor to the Cabinet of Prime Minster Pierre Elliott Trudeau. As policy co-draftor, wrote the Orders In Council to establish the Ministry of Urban Affairs and the Ministry of the Environment. Also O.I.C. – P.C. 1969-1108 which transformed Gatineau into a modern metropolitan area through the mandated transfer of government offices to Hull resulting in the construction of several million square feet of office space. – ‘68-’74; Canadian Transportation Development Agency, Chairman. Helped negotiate the sharing of icebreaking technology in trade missions to the People’s Republic of China – ‘74 – ’77; Ministry of Transport, Assistant Deputy Minister - ‘77 –’80.

Post government: Hard Rock Café (East), Vice President for Special Projects, ‘82-’85. Author: Anniversary Compulsion (Dundurn Press), A Sense of Place (Quarry Press), History of Ghosts (Rodale Press); established altruistic Milleniad Brands for Y2K products and services.

Devout Christian in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Funny, loving, kind, generous, compassionate, humanist, spiritualist seeker, visitor to City Jail inmates. Fan of his 1932 Pierce Arrow V-12, Jack Hylton, dancing, cigars, clean vodka and Seymour: “Feed Me!” Adoring husband, supportive father and grandfather and grand godfather to I.D. and L.G. Melweg. Sweet, smart, gracious, humble and gentle. A lovely guy. A giant Canadian. Now reunited with his wife and ‘Buddy’ Lorraine.

Donations may be made to the Kingston Community Foundation. 

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