Colleagues, it is with deep love and heavy hearts that I regret to inform you the passing of Thomas "Tommy" Wilson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher, and friend. Tom passed away peacefully on June 14th, 2025, in Fort Simpson, NT, with his loving wife by his side.
Born in Montreal, January 16, 1943, Tom was the eldest of three siblings, a proud big brother to Mary and Debby. Tom and his family lived in many towns across eastern Canada. What a lot of people did not know, Tom was an athlete. His favourite sport was rugby, which his oldest granddaughter Reese has taking on his love of the sport. She is playing NCAA division rugby for the Queens University of Charlotte.
The other sport he liked was softball. I remember the young guns asking him to come out of retirement to play with them as their pitcher. This gave him the opportunity to play ball with two of his children. To make a long story, short, thanks to his pitching and coaching the "Young Guns" beat the Midnight Rangers in the final. As a member of the losing team, I was very impressed with him and how he helped the younger players.
Tom attended teacher's college in New Brunswick, where he met lifelong friends Jim and Joan Weaver, who all made their way up North to start their teaching careers. They seem to follow each other across the North.
Before finding his enduring love with his wife, Oragalee, he had two other daughters from a previous marriage. After his separation, he met Oragalee in Broughton Island with whom he had two other children, Mandy and TG. Soon after the children were born, they moved to Fort Simpson in 1980 where they built a home and became an integral part of the community.
Tom was a devoted teacher and an active volunteer serving in the Lions Club, Senior's Society, the village office, or village council, and various community projects. He taught in the high school, middle school, and elementary school. He taught many generations of students including his own children and my children. He retired in Fort Simpson after teaching.
His many years teaching students and countless hours volunteering gave him such pride. Tom was deeply woven into the fabric of Fort Simpson life. He was always looking for a way to help improve the community. One of the highlights with him was implementing an instrumental member in fundraising for the rec centre in Fort Simpson. It was for our youth he would always about his volunteering.
About two years upon moving to Fort Simpson, I had the opportunity to discuss the opportunity to start tv bingo in the community. Tom was very excited about this idea. It was one that would help fundraise for sports in the community but more importantly give Oragalee and his friends something to do on a Thursday night. Once the idea was set in place, Tom took on the role as the organizer of the bingo night and he was always there to help groups out. To this day, TV bingo has changed to radio bingo, but it is still offered weekly in the community.
I had the opportunity to see him in action as a volunteer and a member of the village council where he served for many years as councillor, deputy mayor, and mayor. In 2016, he received the NWTAC long-term service award for serving on the council of the village of Fort Simpson committee for 27 years and for being a past board member of the board.
Above all, Tom's greatest legacy is the love he shared with his children, grandchildren, and especially his wife. Their bond was the kind that made bingo nights sacred and driving around town memorable.
The family would like to thank the Fort Simpson long-term care facility, their staff, and the community of Fort Simpson during their difficult time. Tom was predeceased by his parents Alice and George Wilson. He is survived by his wife Oragalee, his children Mandy, TG, Lynn and Ceporah, grandchildren Noah, Reese, Eli and Charlie, his sisters Mary and Debby, and many, many extended family and friends across the North. He will be sadly missed.
