Marilyn, I’m so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. Wally was a real nice person who took the time to educate and be a friend to many. My deepest condolences to you and your family.

It is with sadness that we've now just heard (Aug 11, 2018) that Wally passed away.

A truly accomplished gentleman who left his mark on so many lives .

To all his family, please accept our most sincere condolences.

Wayne and Bernice Tremblay

Halifax NS.

Dear Phyllis,

You are in my thoughts at this sad time. Thinking about you - my sympathy and friendship. The girls send their condolences as well.

Bev

Please accept my most sincere condolences on Wally’s passing. He was my teacher, my employer, fellow vendor at the Mabou market but most of all a friend and mentor who had a huge influence on me in my teens. It is because of Wally that I have a great interest in gardening, native plants and off course the geography from which they emerge. Wally opened the eyes of so many of his students to the natural world around them. We were all richer because of him. God bless!

So very sorry for your loss. Thinking about you at this difficult time and hope in the future, all the wonderful memories you have made together, will replace the sorrow you now feel.

My condolences to all the family of Wally. He was a great teacher and person and will be sorely missed. I would have come to the services but I am a pallbearer at my wife's Aunts funeral today in Pictou. RIP Wally.

Wally was a great co-worker and we had many good times when he taught in Inverness. Wayne and I want to send our condolences to Wally's family, especially Eleanor, Marilyn, and Jamie. We are very sorry for your loss. Donalda

Hi Phyllis,

I was so sorry to just read Wally’s obit in the paper. We have been away and just arrived home last night. I am sorry I didn’t get the chance to get down to the visitation.

Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I remember many fun times with you both many many years ago.

Take good care of yourself. Hugs and love.

Rosemary.

Phyllis, so sorry to hear of Wally's passing. thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones.

Yesterday (July 28th) I was saddened to learn from a friend that Wally had passed away. A number of years ago Wally and I formed a pleasant friendship based upon occasions when our paths would cross, brought about by our common interests in science, nature, and teaching children. Also we shared a common passion for our Scottish heritage, which would bring us to places like Lismore, where I would enjoy his pipping. We have been out of touch these last number of years, but I will always value the meetings we had, enjoying the common interests we shared. My thoughts and sympathy go out to his family who mourn the void he leaves.

So very sorry for your loss.

You are all in my thoughts.

Phyllis And family, We are so sorry to hear of Wally's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time.

To the family of Wally-Sad to hear of Wally's passing.Cape Breton has lost a great ambassador,which he had cause to earn in so many ways.He was a strong part of the Judique Historical Society concert series and last evening's ceilidh was dedicated to his memory.Remembered always.

Phyllis and family, we are so sorry to hear of Wally's passing and offer our deepest condolences. Wally left a great impression on all of us and we'll all miss his periodic visits to our valley. From your first visit, Wally and you quickly became members of our family. He was a humble man of good humour and great music, and one need not talk to him long to realize how much he loved where he lived. We will miss him, and we look forward to seeing you here again.

Phyllis and family , i like so many have been sorry to hear of the passing of Wally- a truly honourable Gael - Piper and all around gentleman. I think it was so fitting as i learnt of his passing while blasting one of his favorite pipe tunes on my stereo - The Drunken Piper - that the Earth and Moon aligned up perfectly to form the longest lunar eclipse of the century ... Perhaps to help guide him on the way to the heavens that were awaiting him. Slainte Mhath Wally !

Wally was one in a million and I really enjoyed teaching with him at SAERC. He was an excellent teacher and so good at so many things. I studied Gaelic with him and we loved to hear him piping. He amazed us with his stamina and determination and the variety of his interests. Copies of his books are on our shelf and have gone to friends far and near who know Cape Breton. He will truly be deeply missed by so many, ourselves included. Our deepest sympathy to all of you on your loss.

Kevin and Therese MacDonald

Phyllis and family: So sorry to hear of Wally`s passing. I am in Scotland just now, and have just passed through some of the places that Wally had told me he had visited. I`ll play a wee tune for him over here, tonight.

Allan J. MacKenzie

Dear Eleanor:Wally's passing leaves a 'blank file' in the Piping ranks of Nova Scotia! We have played side by side many times over the years at the Causeway opening and 50th anniversary and may times at Antigonish and cherish those memories. Of a great guy who was also a great Piper and left his mark in many ways.He will be deeply missed by all those whose lives he touched,and there are many!

A Flowers of the Forrest goes out in his memory and for Auld Lang Syne!

With heartfelt sympathy and condolences to you and all Wally's family.

Sincerely,

JackMacIsaac

607-2677 Gladstone Street Halifax

B3K0A3

Deepest sympathy to Phyllis Her Family and Wally`s Family on his passing. God togave him Many Talents which he utilized to the fullest. He is a living legend and will be greatly missed. He lived life to the fullest-soo glad to have known you Wally.RIP!

Phyllis and Family

On behalf of Linda and I we would like to offer our Sincerous Sympathy and Prayers to you and your family during the Loss of Wally!Our Toughts and Prayers are with you during this difficult time!

Karl and Linda McNamara

Evanston

Dear Phyllis & Family:

Very saddened to read of Wally's passing. I have fond memories of our week with you people in N.H. I know Bob certainly enjoyed the skiing and you people were so good to us. We shared a lot of laughs and I especially remember Wally's delicious omelets.,

Take care. God bless.

Jean H.

Thoughts and prayers are with you Phyllis and family at this difficult time. While we share your grief,we fondly remember all the good times we shared.Rest in peace our friend!

I would like to extend my deepest sympathies the family of Mr. Ellison. He was a great teacher and helped me more than most people will ever know.

Thirty-one years ago I had the good fortune to meet Wally at a gathering of teachers from across Canada in Calgary. I cherish the friendship that developed and lasted over the years. I can honestly say that I have never to met a more passionate and versatile individual. He was athletic, artistic, creative, lover of nature and lived life to the fullest. Mary Lou and I have fond memories of visits from Wally and Phyllis on their way to and from their ski adventures in Maine and the hospitality they displayed when we visited his beloved Cape Breton. Our living room wall is adorned with one of his marvelous photos. Each Christmas we exchanged cards, his almost always featuring one of his latest nature photographs. Phyllis and family, be assured that his spirit will last forever as we sadly mark his passing.

Mary Lou & Phil

My sincere condolences to Wall's family.

As a wildlife biologist with Natural Resources I first got to know Wally at the Scottsville Environmental Education Center where I was able to help with taxidermy mounts, literature and give talks and nature walks to some of the many students that attended the school. Wally had a passion for teaching kids about natural history that was unrivaled. As his obituary so amply points out he had a passion for many things in life. A few years ago my wife and I enjoyed a tour of his wonderful gardens followed by tea in his lovely restored house...and yes, I believe we left that day with a bunch of assorted garden produce. More recently Wally and I shared lunch and told stories about Cape Breton's many wonders following an illustrated talk on waterfalls and old mill dams and mills he gave to a group in Baddeck.

Rest in Peace,Wally.

40 years ago when I was in the Education Program at St. F.X. Wally taught a Social Studies course to us. Among all of our classmates - as a teacher to us - he stood out as real, caring, passionate about learning and teaching and just a genuine human being. He had the group out on Cape George drawing landscapes - I still remember well. He said to the group: “For heaven’s sakes, you may be in this job for 40 years, get out and do the things with kids - the things that mean something to you. It is not all about the curriculum documents.”

I had the privilege to just retire after 39 amazing years in Education. I took his advice and did some really neat and interesting things that meant something special to me and to the school communities I worked in. He would have approved.

I am thankful for having Wally as my teacher. He meant something to me. I often referrer to his words and to his passion. I feel I had the same - some of it .... directly attributed to him.

My sincerest thoughts on your Loved one. He was a special man.

With warm thoughts ......

John Dobrowolski

Principal Springvale Elementary - Halifax

Our Sincere Condolences Phyllis and to all Family Members!

Phyllis:

We are very sorry to read about the death of our dear friend Wally. We first met at St. F.X. And later on in Calgary with S.E.E.D.S., He was always so full of life and generous to all who knew him.

My motor coach tours always enjoyed his Gaelic, history of Cape Breton stories and of course his "tunes " on the bagpipes.

We have fond memories of the Caelidh you hosted on West Bay Road. As well his Christmas photo cards are framed are are very special to both Sylvia &I.

We are making a donation to the Assumption Church building fund in his memory.

Sylvia & Don

Sorry to learn of Wally's passing. I'm sure he will find new territory to explore.

My deepest condolences to the family, he was a wonderful person

To Phyllis and family:

We were very saddened to hear about Wally passing away. He was always a character and a great mentor for me. We shared many great times and interests together. I thought of him today, when my errant golf shot went into the woods, and I didn’t even look for the ball when I discovered a huge mass of chanterelles! He would have been proud of me. I will think of him fondly whenever I imagine him in “those” situations, where excitement is possible. I loved getting him those great aerial shots of waterfalls, where he knew the limits of the camera, and I pretended to know the limits of my airplane! We always had a blast. He will always be legendary. What a gift to us all.

It will be hard at times, for the next while, but remember the good times.

That is what he was all about.

Allan & Vera

Dear Jamie,

Please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of your father. We're thinking of you!

Sue and Graham

Marilyn & Jamie,

My deepest condolences on the loss of your father. You both share the love of photography, when you take a photo, I am sure he will be near by. I will pray to give you strength.

Much love to you both

Issy

Dear Phyllis and all of Wally’s family:

So sorry to hear of the loss of this great man. How I enjoyed my conversations with him! The times I spent listening to him as he patiently taught Heidi new tunes on the chanter...his pride in her when she graduated to the bagpipes....so many happy memories.

He will be in our hearts forever.

Our deepest condolences to Phyllis and the family. Wally first introduced us to Gaelic in Glendale. He made the classes fun and interesting. We attended many events where Wally was playing the pipes, and enjoyed it thoroughly. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. RIP Wally!

I had the pleasure of meeting wally several times, he was one of the few people that i could talk to for hours non-stop about our mutual obsession: waterfalls. It was, truly, much of his and farley mowats encoragements, that got me exploring the woods for waterfalls as i do now. wally encouraged me with my waterfalls of nova scotia website, and accompanied me on a few journeys into the woods. the most memorable was to the falls near his home, olong a tributary to macdonalds brook, off centotaph road, that i had namd "donald cameron falls" related to the old crown land grantee in the area. he'll be missed by many.

Marilyn, I’m so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. My deepest condolences to you and your family.

Wally's passing is felt far and wide throughout Cape Breton. He was the piper for my father's funeral service in Glendale, offering a haunting lament at the church door, to echo off the surrounding mountains. He will be sorely missed. My condolences to all the Ellison family.

Dearest Phyllis and Family,

Our sincerest condolences on the passing of dear Wally! I, of course remember him fondly with regards to the Shell Merit Fellowship in Environmental Education....with John Trites in Alberta....and our visits to you and the instant musical and dancing parties that would spring up! We were saddened to hear of his death...he was a precious person!! Our love and hugs to you dear Phyllis. Helen and Dom

So very sorry to hear of Wally's passing. Our condolences and prayers to Phyllis and the families. He was always an exceptional person to speak with . His knowledge of C.B was boundless as well as his many other talents. C.B. has lost a great ambassador. Rest in peace my friend.

My deepest sympathy to Phyllis and to all of Wally's family ! RIP mo charaid !

We meet many people in a lifetime but very few leave such a lasting impact. Wally's legacy will last for generations to come. His impact as a teacher, mentor, friend, photographer, adventurer and cultural leader will continue to change the lives of those who knew him for years into the future!!!

God Speed my Friend!!!!

Bob

My condolences to Wally's family and friends.

I enjoyed being a student on one of those cold windy treks to Mabou Coal Mines, getting a tour of his garden, along with suggestions of what I should be planting. Also the morning chats at the brunches or the chance meeting at Tim Hortons.

Yes, I also did as he told me whenever I bought one of his books, "Now don't just look at the pictures, read the write-ups as well."

Rest in peace, my friend.

Irene