Bill Ewing - Written by John Langley

Bill Ewing:

Bill is a North Shore Sports Legend. He was a track star in the 100 meters, a Professional Football Player with the Calgary Stampeders, and a very good rugby player. For the West Vancouver Barbarians and North Shore All-Blacks. Following his playing career in football he took up coaching and was the Coach of the North Shore Cougars in the junior Big Four League that also included CYO, The Vancouver Blue Bombers and the Meralomas. Bill was described by BC Lions head coach at that time as one of the two best junior coaches in BC along with his friend and late Vancouver Blue Bombers coach Lorne Cullen.

Following our Junior Big Four season, Bill got us to enter a team in the 3rd Division under the West Vancouver Barbarians RFC of which he was a member. Bill re-introduced a lot of his football players, myself included, and told us that although Football was a great game Rugby was an even better team sport. It didn’t take long for us to find out how right he was. Most of his players had not played rugby since Junior High School, if at all, so it was a big adjustment for us and a totally different kind of fitness. He kept a lot of us in rugby. Robin Dyke, John Mckenzie, Ken Hick, Bill McLaughlin, Murray Mclellan and I just to name a few.

Bill after realizing we needed a North Shore approach to the game if we were to be successful. He and Alex Mahood agreed and both clubs voted heavily in favour of a merger. Bill became the first President of the Capilano RFC in 1969/70. Bill's job took him away to Kelowna for a few years but he returned to the North Shore and continued supporting the Capilano RFC.

Bill is an amazing fellow. He is very intellectual can be a bit reserved and has had some health issues. He has a family history of Heart problems and his Doctor told him he wasn’t likely to live much past his 50’s as he lost both his father and brother to Heart disease. Bill says with a smile I remind my Doctor of what he said, “Every Time I See Him”!!! Good on You Bill and Happy 95th Birthday.

All the Best

John Langley