It is with great sadness that the family of William James Inkster (Bill) announce his passing after his battle with cancer.  Bill was born on March 12, 1963, and passed away on Nov. 21, 2023, in Maple Ridge, B.C.  Bill was born in the beautiful town of Kincardine, Ontario, where he married his wife Barbara Inkster (Edwards) on July 11, 1998.  They have two wonderful children, Caiden (age 18) and Kyla (age 15).  Bill was predeceased by his mother, June Inkster (Hall); his paternal grandparents, James and Edna Inkster; his maternal grandparents, Lorne and Nina Hall; his aunts, Marilyn Inkster and Carol MacKenzie; and his uncle, Don Inkster.   Bill is dearly missed by his dad, William A. Inkster (Bill), his brother Steve Inkster, and Steve’s family, Julie and Casey Inkster.  Bill’s extended Inkster, Hall, and Edwards family also miss him very much. 

Bill grew up in the small town of Walkerton, Ontario.   Surrounded by nature, Bill, his brother Steve, and their friends would spend most days by the Saugeen River, at the local outdoor swimming pool, or in the woods, building forts.  Bill loved exploring plants and wildlife and checking out the stars with his telescope.  These early adventures helped him become very knowledgeable about the environment.  Bill graduated from Walkerton District Secondary School, Sault College (Forestry), Simon Fraser University (Bachelor of Education, 1993), and the University of British Columbia (Master of Education, 2002).  

Bill was wonderful, caring, and kind, to his family, friends, and to others who knew him.  He put incredible energy into all of his pursuits. His accomplishments were many.  He was a lifeguard, forester, and teacher.  Bill taught in the Coquitlam School District from 1994 to 2023.  He taught at Irvine Elementary School, Glen Elementary School, Scott Creek Middle School, and Kwayhquitlum Middle School.  His knowledge about the environment, wildlife, science (biology and an interest in astronomy), history, and literature, with a great sense-of-humour, helped him be an excellent teacher.  Bill taught and coached students of a wide range of ages. He especially enjoyed teaching middle school students.  He had a gift for explaining new concepts, and adding humour or a story to the lesson, to keep students engaged, to help them retain the information, and to think critically about new ideas.  A special highlight in his coaching/teaching career was the year that his son Caiden was on his team that won the Grade 8, District Volleyball Championship.  Bill’s passion for learning, and the care and understanding he gave to each of his students, will live on in their memories and in the memories of the many friends he made in the Coquitlam School District (B.C.)  

Bill had many talents.  He was an exceptional athlete and participated in at least 15 sports in his life.  Bill shared his love of sports with his family, especially hockey.  Bill won many sports awards including Athlete of the Year, at Walkerton District Secondary School.  He was also a proud participant in the B.C. Summer Games on the Underwater Hockey team.   

Bill was also very artistic, and he could produce very realistic drawings and paintings. The Great Horned Owl in the living room, or the mural of Lake Huron in his daughter’s bedroom, reminds his family of special memories. He loved listening to music, with some of his favourite bands being Rush and the Tragically Hip.  He also enjoyed playing trivia and board games with his family in Maple Ridge, B.C., which he usually won.   

Bill loved travelling and learning about new places.  Some of his favourite trips were to Australia, New Zealand, and Costa Rica, with his wife Barbara.  He also enjoyed taking his family to Mexico, Cuba, on camping trips, and driving across Canada.  He loved travelling with Barbara and his kids to his favourite places in Walkerton and Kincardine, Ontario on summer trips.  Showing his family how to find fossils on the beaches of Lake Huron or going on hikes in the forest behind his parents’ house in Kincardine, brought out many stories of childhood adventures.  Being a storyteller, sometimes his audience wasn’t too sure if the natural history he was sharing during a hike, was fact or fiction. 

Bill was an amazing husband and father. He was very loving, considerate, and a great listener.  Bill and Barbara enjoyed many adventures, great times, fun, and laughter during their 30 years together.  Bill always wanted to help his family be happy and safe.  He loved playing with Caiden and Kyla. Whether it was a game of catch, street hockey, watching Kyla perform in Musical Theatre, or going to the kids’ sporting events, he was always a very proud dad.   His family will deeply miss seeing his smile and hearing his laugh.  He brought much joy to many people.  A life well-lived but gone much too soon. 

Thank you to all the family, friends, and colleagues who have been such a great support to Bill and his family during this difficult time.  Thank you to Bill Inkster Sr. and June Inkster, (Bill’s parents), for raising such a wonderful person.  Thank you to Sheila Edwards, Steve Inkster, Nancy Edwards, Brent Edwards, Julie Inkster, Christine Hoheisel (Bill and Barbara’s siblings and in-laws), Linda and Gary Forster, and David Grunder (Bill’s cousins), for all their love and support at the hospital, at the hospice, at home, and on the phone. Thanks to the staff at Ridge Meadows Hospital, the Abbotsford Cancer Clinic, and the McKenney Creek Hospice, for their care and professionalism.   

Donations to the Terry Fox Foundation, the B.C. Cancer Foundation, or the Canadian Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated.  A Celebration of Life will happen in 2024.  Further details to come.  Condolences can be emailed to his wife Barbara, at barbaraink2@outlook.com.