Individual Details
Frederick George Ursel
(24 Jul 1924 - 31 Jul 2010)
On his eighteenth birthday, July 24, 1942, Fred joined the RCAF. Trained as a navigator in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Fred was assigned to 514 Squadron at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, England. While there he met Violet Mercer and married her in 1945. He returned to Canada that year. Violet followed a year later when ship space became available. Fred then finished secondary school at Regina College before enrolling at the University of Saskatchewan. In 1950, he received a bachelors degree in electrical engineering.
He began his career as a civil engineer with the city of Regina before joining the Saskatchewan Power Corporation. He spent his entire career there eventually achieving the position of President and CEO of the Corporation when he was appointed in 1976.
Fred was a 'people' person, as shown by a comment to his obituary by Bev Novenski, a SaskPower employee, who said: "My deepest condolences on your loss. I currently work at SaskPower. Mr. Ursel was the president when I first started although for a million dollars I couldn't have told you at the time. At Christmas my second year, a man came and shook everyone's hand and wished them Merry Christmas. After he left my boss do you know who that was, and none of us did. She said that .... is the president of the company. Mr. Ursel. We all looked at our hands as if a rock star had just been there. He went through the entire building and shook the hand of every employee. There hasn't been a president like him since."
In 1976, Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower) President Fred Ursel responded to a paper entitled 'Native Issues in Saskatchewan' which expressed that people of aboriginal ancestry were having problems gaining and maintaining employment in the province. Ursel asked members of his staff to develop proposals for possible programs to address his concerns. Through program development and consultation with Canada Manpower, a model of pre-trade training and academic upgrading was created. Program candidates were primarily aboriginal individuals seeking employment opportunities. This program was in effect until 1989. (saskarchives.com)
Fred and Vi retired in 1981 remaining in Regina until 1987 when they bought and moved to a home at Eagle Crest, Qualicum, Vancouver Island. Fred's love of plants and gardening became quickly evident there. In 1992, they moved to Dean Park in North Saanich of the Island. Again, Fred's skills with plants transformed their new property into a garden paradise. Fred was especially happy when he travelled with his beloved Vi to many vacation spots and to Saskatchewan to visit his daughter Bonnie and her family.
He began his career as a civil engineer with the city of Regina before joining the Saskatchewan Power Corporation. He spent his entire career there eventually achieving the position of President and CEO of the Corporation when he was appointed in 1976.
Fred was a 'people' person, as shown by a comment to his obituary by Bev Novenski, a SaskPower employee, who said: "My deepest condolences on your loss. I currently work at SaskPower. Mr. Ursel was the president when I first started although for a million dollars I couldn't have told you at the time. At Christmas my second year, a man came and shook everyone's hand and wished them Merry Christmas. After he left my boss do you know who that was, and none of us did. She said that .... is the president of the company. Mr. Ursel. We all looked at our hands as if a rock star had just been there. He went through the entire building and shook the hand of every employee. There hasn't been a president like him since."
In 1976, Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower) President Fred Ursel responded to a paper entitled 'Native Issues in Saskatchewan' which expressed that people of aboriginal ancestry were having problems gaining and maintaining employment in the province. Ursel asked members of his staff to develop proposals for possible programs to address his concerns. Through program development and consultation with Canada Manpower, a model of pre-trade training and academic upgrading was created. Program candidates were primarily aboriginal individuals seeking employment opportunities. This program was in effect until 1989. (saskarchives.com)
Fred and Vi retired in 1981 remaining in Regina until 1987 when they bought and moved to a home at Eagle Crest, Qualicum, Vancouver Island. Fred's love of plants and gardening became quickly evident there. In 1992, they moved to Dean Park in North Saanich of the Island. Again, Fred's skills with plants transformed their new property into a garden paradise. Fred was especially happy when he travelled with his beloved Vi to many vacation spots and to Saskatchewan to visit his daughter Bonnie and her family.
Events
| Birth | 24 Jul 1924 | Regina, Saskatchewan | |||
| Marriage | 1945 | Violet Mercer | |||
| Death | 31 Jul 2010 |
Families
| Spouse | Violet Mercer ( - ) |
| Child | Bonnie Gay Ursel (1951 - ) |
| Father | ADAM Ursel (1897 - 1966) |
| Mother | STEPHANIE JOHANNA Uhrich (1901 - 1986) |
| Sibling | RUTH Mildred Ursel (1922 - 1999) |
| Sibling | Elsie Hildegard Ursel (1923 - 1923) |
| Sibling | Norman Herbert Ursel (1926 - 1990) |
| Sibling | Adam Harold Ursel (1929 - 2003) |
| Sibling | Lorne Victor Ursel (1931 - 2020) |
| Sibling | Richard Alvin Gerald (Dick) Ursel (1933 - 2001) |