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In Memory of Warren R. McGillivray

Remembering Warren R. McGillivray

Actuary. Husband. Father.

Warren was born May 29, 1941, in Saskatoon, SK, to Helen (née Mickleborough) and Roderick McGillivray. The family moved to Regina, where Warren graduated from Sheldon Williams High School in 1959 and was awarded the Governor General’s Medal. Warren accepted a General Motors Scholarship to attend the University of Saskatchewan.

Warren and Linda Henderson met at the University and were married in St. Andrew's Chapel on campus after Linda completed her B. Sc. (H.Ec.). While studying for his M.A. (Mathematics), Warren worked in insurance and developed a keen interest in actuarial sciences. They moved to Regina in 1966, where Warren worked at the Co-Operators Life Insurance, pursued actuarial sciences studies, and taught night classes at the University of Saskatchewan. Linda completed her second degree (B. Ed.) and taught at Scott Collegiate.

With an interest in going overseas, Warren applied for a CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) job and accepted a position teaching Statistics at the University of Dar Es Salam, Tanzania. In 1969 he and Linda packed for a move that started an international career.

In 1972 Warren accepted a job at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, to be head of the Mathematics Department and set up a Post-Graduate Actuarial Science Program. He became a full Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in 1973 after completing the requisite series of examinations.

Three years later, Warren accepted a job with the Social Security Department of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a specialized agency of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. This move preceded the birth of his son Douglas in 1977, and marked the start of a 28-year career dedicated to the mandate of the ILO and social security.

In 1980 the family moved to Bangkok, Thailand, where daughter, Catherine, was born, and Warren became a Social Security Advisor with the ILO, covering the Asia Region. Linda and Warren enjoyed many travels across Asia before returning to Geneva in 1985 where Warren continued work with the ILO.

The family then transferred to Suva, Fiji in 1990, where Warren was the Head of the ILO Office, consulting for the South Pacific Region. Three years later, Warren accepted his final post in Geneva with the ILO's International Social Security Association (ISSA) branch, where he stayed until retirement in 2004. He continued to travel and do private consulting until 2009, when he and Linda moved to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

As a life-long advocate for social security, Warren held his colleagues in the highest regard and was very grateful for the professionalism, camaraderie, and support offered to him and his family throughout his career. Such a nomadic life usually leads to solitude, but Warren loved meeting new people and was fortunate to have acquaintances and colleagues become good friends for decades.

The family would like to thank the Doctors, Nurses and Staff at the BC Cancer Clinic, Victoria Hospice and Island Health Community Care.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local cancer research charity.