Obituary of George Wayne Rogers

ROGERS, George Wayne NSAA FRAIC It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of George Wayne Rogers, age 85, on Monday, September 11, 2023. Born in Halifax, he was the son of Daniel Mathias and Blanche Edith (Shortt) Rogers. We are grateful for George’s full and meaningful life, which was deeply anchored by his relationship with his wife, Carol. He was her hero. Together, they shared 35 years of mutual love, unwavering support, and enjoyment in all they undertook. A consummate host, George took great pleasure in welcoming family and friends at their home, showcasing his impressive culinary skills. Evenings in his company often concluded with songs that paid tribute to his Irish heritage. Professional accomplishment, community contribution, sailboats and sailing adventures, travel, and the joyous companionship of their black labradors Molly and Maggie, enriched his life's journey. Educated at College Street School, St. Patrick’s High School, and Dalhousie University, he studied architecture at the University of Manitoba. As President of MacFawn and Rogers Architects, he demonstrated professional integrity and design excellence over five decades, actively participating in his practice until his 85th year. He received multiple design recognitions, including five Lieutenant Governor’s Awards and a prestigious Governor General’s Award in Architecture for the design of the HMCS Sackville Interpretation Centre on the Halifax waterfront. Another significant project was the design of Alderney Landing and Waterfront Park in Dartmouth. He was a Jury member for the National Housing Design Awards and for Design Awards of the Nova Scotia Association of Architects. His work was featured in numerous industry Journals. Nationally, George served on the Board of Directors as Regional Chair of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the College of Fellows. He was a Board Director for the Canadian Architectural Certification Board; and served as an Executive for the Community Planning Association of Canada. Locally George had many leadership roles: as President, Nova Scotia Association of Architects; on the Board of Governors of DalTech; as President of Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia; as Chair of the Halifax Landmarks Commission; as a member of Halifax’s Heritage Advisory Committee and Art Allocation Committee. An historian of church architecture, George co-authored Thy Dwellings Fair, Churches of Nova Scotia, 1750-1830, and More Stately Mansions, Churches of Nova Scotia, 1830-1910. As an editor his work included Brunswick Street: A Survey of Buildings and Environs for the Halifax Civic Advisory Committee on the Preservation of Historic Buildings and Granville Street: A Sense of Place which was influential in the saving of the Halifax historic waterfront district. He was a course presenter of “The City” for Saint Mary’s University, and a Vision TV presenter on church architecture for the Atlantic School of Theology. George was committed to his community. He offered his expertise for many years as a Board member of the Old Burying Ground Foundation of the National Historic Site. He served on the Parish Council of St. Mary’s Basilica, and other Archdiocese committees. He was a founding member and first Chair of the St. Vincent de Paul Society for Hope Cottage and a past Board member of the Waegwoltic Club. An accomplished sailor, George navigated several Halifax-Marblehead ocean races and ocean yacht deliveries. He was a Past President of the Nova Scotia Sailing Association and taught all levels of safety and navigation for the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons. He co-authored Cruising Nova Scotia, Yarmouth to Canso, still to be found on sailboats in the Maritimes. With Carol he enjoyed cruising Nova Scotian coastal waters, especially Mahone Bay, chartering in other distant locations. George was recently honored as a Life Member of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. George’s legacy will be seen in the structures and spaces he designed, and also in the countless lives he touched through his mentoring, community service and warm friendships. For the next generation, he provided the “George W. Rogers Award” presented annually to financially support a deserving Dalhousie architecture student. The criteria reflect George as a student, and led to his exceptional achievements within the architectural profession, and his outstanding contributions as a community leader. George is survived by his wife Carol (Fairn) Rogers, sister Nancy (Donald) Johnston of Oakville, sister-in-law Linda Clarke of Ottawa, nieces Jacqui (Barry) Kroeplin of Burlington, and Laura (Dirk) Brubacher and nephew Andrew Clarke of Calgary, grand niece and nephews Kyle, Benjamin, and Noah Kroeplin, Zachery, Emelin, and JT Brubacher. Funeral, and reception, will be held Thursday, September 28th at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Mary’s Basilica, Halifax. George’s life-long friend, Father Albert Cosgrove will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Donations in George’s memory may be made to the QEII Foundation or Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia.