Prairie Architects would like to acknowledge the tremendous contribution to the formation of our firm by remembering Keith J. MacFarlane, founding Architect, who passed away on December 20, 2023.

Keith MacFarlane was one of the three principal architects that founded Prairie Architects in 1981. The group came together in the offices of Barker + Guslits Architects who had an office in the un-airconditioned attic at 28 Edmonton Street. Dudley Thompson and then Bob Gregoire were renting space from the firm when Keith joined. Soon after, while they were working together, Eric Barker moved to Victoria and Mark Guslits to Toronto, they offered Dudley, Bob, and Keith their practice that included meagre furnishings and an office lease for the grand sum of $3500, and the Prairie Partnership was born. 

The three of them worked on a variety of smaller projects in the early days with Keith as the most experienced in production and specifications. At that time, the firm was required to list the principal architects in its name, so the formal name was The Prairie Partnership - Thompson, MacFarlane and Gregoire Architects.  When Bob Gregoire left for Toronto in 1986, Keith and Dudley settled into a growing practice and called it Prairie Architects Inc. 

Keith was involved in most of the projects in the office in the early days - the work included many new schools and renovations to schools including Calvin Christian, Ralph Brown, Fisher River, Atikokan as well as the Earl Grey and Lavarendrye restorations. He designed many new churches and additions including The United Church in Meadowood, St. Pauls United in Morden, St Matthew’s Maryland and Rosedale United in Winnipeg. There were many projects in Northwest Ontario including the Kenora Library, Atikokan School, the Sioux Narrows Ambulance centre, and notably the Ignace Tourism Centre, a gentle curved building, the first you see on the right side of HWY 17 as you enter town from the west. In addition, Keith worked around the province on projects including Sam Waller Museum in The Pas, the Stonewall Library, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Thompson Seniors Housing and the German military barracks in Shilo. Complementing the variety of projects were many health care renovations at HSC Winnipeg, many private residential additions, several new bookstores for McNally Robinson and redevelopments for heritage buildings including 141 Bannatyne, and the Hamilton Bank building, both of which were awarded Heritage Winnipeg Preservation awards.

Keith undertook his work with integrity and competence and contributed throughout the years to the building of a co-operative and collegial culture in the practice, providing a solid professional and technical foundation for the firm. He was missed when he retired from the practice in 1998 but remained a mentor and friend of the firm and would often visit.

Full Obituary from the Family;

Keith John MacFarlane died peacefully at Concordia Hospital on December 20 of complications from Parkinson's Disease.

He was predeceased by Nila Dennis, his wife of 48 years. He leaves daughter Laurel Murphy (Nick), grandchildren, Charlotte and Nolan Murphy, and son Graham MacFarlane.

Keith was born to Douglas and Dorothy (Primmer) MacFarlane, and grew up in the Riverview neighbourhood of Winnipeg, with a two-year sojourn in France. He was the eldest of three children, with a sister Audrey and a brother Lorne, who died in early childhood. Keith attended Churchill High School and then studied architecture at the University of Manitoba. After a few years working for small firms, Keith partnered with Dudley Thompson to establish the practice that is now Prairie Architects. He was an eminently practical architect, designing unfussy, adaptable spaces. Much of his work was done in Northwest Ontario, with buildings such as Kenora Public Library, Lake of the Woods Museum, and Ignace Library and Township Office. His design for the McNally Robinson at Grant Park, with its spiral stair leading to a tree-top children's section, although a modest project, is one that seems to occupy a place in the heart of many Winnipeggers.

Keith was always very active, and had a keen sense of adventure. As a university student he biked across Europe. He paddled the Hayes River from Norway House to York Factory in a month-long canoe expedition retracing the old fur trade route. He took the Trans-Siberian railway across Russia. He carried the Olympic torch in a cross-Canada relay. He bought his first sailboat before he bought his first car, and loved to spend afternoons sailing at the family cottage in the Whiteshell. He left architecture in his early 50s to design and build a 50' boat. Well into his 60s he would play pick-up hockey with the teenagers at the local rink. He and Nila travelled the world together in their retirement.

He was a family man, prioritizing time with his kids, and then grandkids, making amazing Halloween costumes with them, or coming up with elaborate themed birthday parties. Whether sailing, canoeing, camping, or cross-country skiing, he loved spending quality time outdoors. A consummate handyman, he built a two-storey playhouse in the backyard with a toboggan slide, and was always working away at renovations of some kind.

Keith was kind, gentle, and generous. He will be greatly missed.

A funeral service will take place on Wednesday January 17 at 2:00 pm at the United Church in Meadowood, where Keith was a long-time member.