William Martin Reid

Reid, William Martin “Martin”

Surrounded by love, family, and community, Martin Reid passed away peacefully in Hamilton, Ontario, on November 20, 2025, at the age of 87.

He is lovingly remembered by his children, his wider family, and the many friends who knew him as a man who unapologetically lived with conviction, kindness, and the occasional well-timed argument. He believed deeply that people should be free to be who they are: imperfect, unfolding, and without judgment.

Martin carried Scotland in his bones, its stubbornness, its poetry, its conviction, and it's quiet rebellion. He was predeceased by his parents, Major William Reid and Catherine (McKellar) Reid, and by his former wife, Vuki (Kotosoma).

Born in Perth, Scotland, Martin inherited a lineage shaped by endurance and adventure. His father, a decorated First World War veteran and civil engineer, and his mother, rooted in Highland ancestry, passed down to him a sharp mind, a restless curiosity, and a fierce independence that never left him.

In 1957, at just nineteen, he boarded the RMS Saxonia and crossed the Atlantic to begin a new life in Canada, a journey he often recalled as one of the defining moments of his life. He built his career across British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, becoming a respected figure in finance and leasing. Known for his intellect, dry wit, and principled approach, Martin played key roles in major lease transactions and created a tax structure in the early 1980s that saved the Bank of Montreal a significant sum, funds ultimately reinvested into growth and community.

Beyond work, Martin found deep meaning in movement, faith, and art. He was deeply committed to his church and to his communities, showing up not for recognition, but out of a belief in shared responsibility and care.

His love of cycling began in childhood, when he would pedal miles on a tricycle to follow his father’s visits to nearby military camps. That early spark of independence stayed with him for life. Cycling and photography became his ways of seeing and experiencing the world. Some of his happiest days were spent riding with friends from the Hamilton Cycling Club or coasting through the sunlit roads of Pinar del Río in Cuba, a place he returned to year after year and where friendships grew into family. His favourite music was Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Flower of Scotland. His favourite colour was royal blue, and his favourite flower, the thistle, captured his nature perfectly: resilient, bold, and quietly beautiful.

Politically engaged throughout his life, Martin supported the NDP and was active with Fair Vote Canada, advocating for electoral reform and democratic participation with the same determination that shaped his life. He believed that ordinary people hold extraordinary power when they are given a fair and equal chance to be heard.

Martin weathered challenges, rebuilt himself more than once, and gathered a lifetime of stories from around the globe. Above all, he was proudest of his family and of the resilience, spirit, and grit he saw reflected back in them.

To honour Martin is to honour a life lived with conviction, curiosity, and uncompromising authenticity. He leaves us with memories, lessons, and a reminder to begin again, no matter how many times life calls us to.

Honouring Martin’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held in April, bringing together family and friends for a memorial ride and time to share stories, memories, and affection in his honour. If you were a friend or associate of Martin’s and would like an invitation, please email celebratinglife.gatherings@gmail.com