Desautels Faculty of Music

In Memoriam: Bill Loewen

The Desautels Faculty of Music is deeply saddened by the recent passing of William H. Loewen [CA/54] on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026.

Bill Loewen at the opening of the Desautels Concert Hall in September 2024.
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2 minutes
Bill Loewen speaks with Heather Laser (Director, Major Gifts), alongside his son Peter Loewen and daughter-in-law Joanne Loewen, at the opening of the Desautels Concert Hall in September 2024.
Bill Loewen speaks with Heather Laser (Director, Major Gifts), alongside his son Peter Loewen and daughter-in-law Joanne Loewen, at the opening of the Desautels Concert Hall in September 2024.
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes

A lasting impact at the Desautels Faculty of Music

Bill was a lifelong supporter of classical music, leaving his mark with many of Winnipeg’s major music and arts organizations. The Desautels Faculty of Music benefited from Bill’s generosity which enabled the purchase of a new Yamaha CFX grand piano for the Desautels Concert Hall, donated in memory of his wife Shirley Elizabeth Loewen. Bill’s donation afforded the hall a world-class piano, providing the DFoM’s student, faculty, and guest performers an unparalleled performing experience. 

A particular love for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Bill was heavily involved with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and in 1995, the musicians unanimously voted to make him an honorary WSO member. He is, to date, the only person to have ever received such honour. The WSO further celebrated his commitment to the arts by awarding him the Golden Baton Award in 1998 and recognizing him and Shirley as Directors Emeriti in 2009.

Bill joined the WSO’s fundraising committee in the 80’s, helping them through a particularly difficult period, and later served as chair of the board of directors for several terms. Bill established the Legacy Circle, initiated the Summer Series, was an ongoing donor to the endowment fund, and sponsored the Millenium Free Concert Series. After Shirley’s passing, Bill and his children honoured her with the creation of the Shirley Loewen Sunday Classics Concert Series, a matinée series that encourages families and those who cannot attend evening presentations to come together to enjoy classical music.

Bill and Shirley were avid attendees of WSO and Winnipeg Chamber Music Society concerts among many other music and arts events in the city.

Generosity celebrated throughout Winnipeg and Canada

A chartered accountant by trade, Bill founded the payroll company Comcheq (later TelPay) in 1968. His support of the arts was also an important facet of his professional life, as his company provided payroll services to arts organizations across Canada free of charge.

Bill’s philanthropy and immense support of the arts have been recognized through various awards. He was named Manitoba Executive of the Year in 1990, became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1999, inducted into the Citizen’s Hall of Fame in 2008, received the Governor General’s Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts in 2017, and became a Member of the Order of Manitoba in 2018. Commenting on his receipt of the Hnatyshyn Award, Bill said, “Music has been particularly important to me. I compare it to a magnet and iron filings: a magnet orders the filings in a certain space, just as music orders your frazzled mind beautifully at the end of the day.” 

Bill and Shirley supported many of Winnipeg’s leading arts organizations, primarily through the W.H. & S.E. Loewen Foundation, including the St. Norbert Arts Centre, the St. Norbert Farmer’s Market, the Manitoba Choral Association, Manitoba Opera, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Chamber Music Association, the restauration of the Pantages Playhouse Theatre, and the restauration of the Bank of Commerce building into the multi-use, non-profit Millenium Centre.

Bill’s impact in Winnipeg’s arts community will be felt for generations. The DFoM is incredibly thankful for his dedication to and support of music as well as the education of future generations of musicians. 

The family invites you to attend a memorial being held at the Desautels Concert Hall at the University of Manitoba on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 5 P.M.