William Hilts died on Friday May 22nd, doing what he loved, flying a water bomber fighting forest fires in northern Alberta.  He was 38.  He leaves behind his parents, Maria and Stewart Hilts, his younger brother Matthew and his wife Paula, his sister Katherine and her husband Darryl, his nephew Jaxson, and his grandmother Rosa Gallo, as well as many other aunts, uncles and cousins. He also leaves a very strong network of friends in BC and elsewhere, many with ties to the flying community.

William worked for Conair in BC and Alberta, and was fighting the Cold Lake fire when his single pilot water bomber was apparently hit by a fierce updraft of hot air from the fire, flipping his plane when he was at the lowest point of his water bombing run.  Thanks to the Cold Lake military Search and Rescue Team who were able to retrieve his body in the isolated location.

We take joy in the memories of five wonderful family camping trips across Canada when our children were young.  It was on a trip to the Yukon and Alaska that William saw his first forest fire, and we think then that he decided what he wanted to be.  I remember the conversation in his last year of high school about what he wanted to do with his life, and it took about 3 minutes, as Will had already made his own decision to apply to the aviation programs in Ontario, and he headed off to Confederation College in Thunder Bay in 1996.

William flew float planes for Kenora Air Services, for an ecotourism company out of Yellowknife, for Turtle Airways during a memorable winter in Fiji, and then for Harbour Air out of Prince Rupert.  It was there that we had our only flight with him, when he took us out to Haida Gwaii and back.  Then he moved to northern Ontario flying larger freight  planes for Wasaya Airways into isolated native communities.  These were the planes he needed experience on to follow his dream of becoming a water bomber pilot.  This winter after we had suffered through a particularly bitter week of -30° temperatures he laughed that we hadn’t been cold until you unloaded a plane in the fierce arctic wind at -60 on the shores of Hudson’s Bay!

William got his dream job with Conair 4 years ago, first flying the large water bombers, and then moving to the advance team of small ‘Fire Boss’ planes because of his float plane experience.  This was the plane he was flying when he went down.  He died doing what he loved, and if he had a message for us it would be to ‘Follow your dreams.’

Two memorial services have been arranged to celebrate William and his ashes will be scattered in the mountains he loved and interred in the family plot in Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound. The family would appreciate stories, memories and photos from his friends.  

The first memorial service will be held in Ontario in Markdale on Saturday July 18, 2015 with the visitation starting at 12:00pm, the service at 2:00pm and with a reception to follow.

Annesley United Church
82 Toronto Street
Markdale ON, N0C 1H0

The second memorial service will be held in British Columbia in Langley on Friday October 2, 2015 starting at 2:00pm.

Christian Life Assembly
21277 56 Avenue
Langley BC, V2Y 1M3

William will also be honoured at the Fallen Firefighters memorial in Hinton, Alberta on September 30, 2015 at 10:00am.

Hinton Training Centre
1176 Switzer Drive
Hinton, Alberta