Niverville's Bill Fast dies, community mourns loss

On Monday, October 26, one of Niverville's beloved community champions, Bill Fast, passed away.  

Fast is a lifelong resident of Niverville. He comes from a long line of community builders who've been shaping the community through selfless giving for generations.  

Most recently, Fast served as town councilor for the past four years. He chose not to run in the coming election in order to spend more time with his wife, Jeannette, as well his children and grandchildren.  

Message from Myron Dyck

"I will miss the big smile on Bill's face when I would ask about them, as he loved talking about his family, especially his grandkids," Mayor Myron Dyck said today. "Bill had the gift of helping, and the community will miss how he loved serving seniors through singing for them or taking them to various appointments. Mostly, I will miss the random phone calls where he would check in on me to make sure I was okay after a rough week. Bill, you have served your family and community well. Until we meet again. Rest easy my friend." 

Dyck says Fast was a real advocate for the seniors within the community, bringing their concerns and needs to council on a regular basis. The mayor describes him as kind and gentle, but highly motivated in making a difference in people's lives. 

"He just wanted to help people," Dyck says. "He took a lot of joy in being able to do that. He was a person that encouraged people and he had an optimistic outlook on life."

Message from Clare Braun

Clare Braun is another lifelong Niverville resident that has known Fast for his entire life.  

Braun says Fast approached everything in life with a can-do attitude.  

"He has a personality that really attracted a lot of people into his life, who considered him a friend because of his outgoing personality and accepting way of treating people, " Braun says.  

According to Braun, Fast faced some big challenges in his own life and still, those circumstances didn't develop into cynicism. 

Braun remembers Fast's grandfather, William Dyck, as a generous, compassionate community-loving individual. For Braun, Bill Fast emulated his grandfather's character in many ways.  

"[Mr. Willam Dyck] had time for the people he met in his life that were going through life," Braun says. "And Bill was like that, too."