With much sadness, we announce the passing of Tony Williams on June 27, 2023, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer.
Tony, along with Susan Chortyk and Neil Ramsden founded PBI in 2008 and was instrumental in negotiating the financial terms of the purchase of the business from Watson Wyatt. Along with Susan and Neil, Tony’s participation in the new venture was critical towards ensuring the successful transition of clientele to PBI until his retirement from PBI in 2016.
While the initial success of PBI was due to the transition of these clients to the new firm, Tony was determined to set the stage for PBI’s success in the future. He was instrumental in building the investment practice and in the growth of PBI across Canada.
A true renaissance man, Tony was an avid painter, musician, car enthusiast, and adventure seeker. While those pursuits were his escape from the day-to-day grind of business, experiencing the world and all that it had to offer enhanced his skills as an actuary, a trusted advisor, and a mentor.
Throughout his career, Tony was passionate about furthering Indigenous rights, education, and awareness in Canada. His professional involvement with the Indigenous community started in the early 1990s and carried through beyond his retirement. In 2016, Tony established two endowment funds at his alma mater, the University of Manitoba, designed to help Indigenous students in their pursuit of education in the sciences. During this time, he also became the Chair of the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation focusing on increasing the number First Nations, Metis, and Inuit students receiving degrees in science, engineering, and medicine. In 2018, Tony became involved as a volunteer with the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network, where he worked towards establishing an Indigenous Science and Peace Studies program at the UN University for Peace in Costa Rica. Tony has said that his involvement with Indigenous communities was his most rewarding professional achievement.
Tony will truly be missed by his family, his former colleagues, and the many friends that he made throughout his varied journeys.
On behalf of the management and staff of PBI, we extend our condolences to his wife Hazel, children, grandchildren, and loved ones.