John Westeinde

From wooden shoes to steel-toed boots: A Dutch-Canadian success story

With deep sadness we announce the passing of John Westeinde on November 29, 2025, at the age of 87. We take comfort knowing he is finally at peace after years of health challenges, and can imagine him happily reviewing blueprints for heaven’s first Dutch windmill.

John was born in Zeeland, Netherlands, in 1938, just before the war. Growing up in occupied Holland taught him early about resilience. At age 14 he immigrated to Canada with his parents, John and Cornelia, and siblings Elli and Nicolaas, settling on a small farm near London, Ontario. They arrived with little but carried enormous determination.

John became the first in his family to attend university, graduating from Western University in engineering in 1962. He liked to joke that he was an “average student,” but his work ethic and curiosity set the stage for an exceptional career. His early work took him to England with  Wimpey Construction, then to Ellis Don in several Canadian cities, and later to Ottawa to manage the construction of the new Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario with Fuller Construction.

In 1978, John and his wife Shirley founded Westeinde Construction, which grew into a family of companies and a true community of itself. Their beach parties on the Ottawa River were legendary, where hard hats and construction talk gave way to sandals and laughter. That entrepreneurial spirit continues in their three children, Julie, Jeff, and Jonathan who all brought John great pride, love and joy.

Over the years, John gave generously to his industry. He served as Chair of the Ottawa Construction Association, and Chair of the Ontario General Contractors Association.   He became a lifetime member of Canadian Construction Association due to his many years of participation on the Board and committees, and helped found the Canadian Design Build Institute of Canada.

He approached life with gusto. He loved the cottage, art, gardening, and travelling with Shirley. His small handwritten notes tucked into his shirt pocket were classic John: thoughtful, meticulous, and always planning for the next improvement. He lived the old Dutch saying, wooden shoes, wooden head, wooden listen, and absolutely wooden give up!

Above all, John was devoted to his family. He was a proud father (Julie, Jeff (Colleen), Jonathan (Susan), as well as grandfather(Jacqueline, Ruth, Paul, Kirsten, Nicole, Johan, Mykal, Savannah, Paige, Marieke and Kyla, and great-grandfather (Quinn and Aurora). John is also remembered by his sister Elli, brother Nick and many nieces and nephews whose lives he touched with his interest and kindness. He was predeceased by his companion Rita.

Grandpa always had a lesson to share, and his gentle insistence on work ethic and attention to detail will be remembered by all who knew him

For more than thirty years, John carried a dream close to his heart: the Friendship Windmill, a traditional working Dutch windmill for Canada’s capital. To him it represented gratitude for Canada’s liberation of Holland and the opportunity his family found here. It was a symbol of heritage, craftsmanship, and hope. Maybe one day this dream might still come true.

Rest in peace John.  The foundation you built in business, family, and community will stand for generations.

The Westeinde family extends its profound appreciation to the many caregivers who became increasingly involved in John’s life over the past few years.

Close friends and family are invited to assemble and celebrate John’s life on December 21, 2025 in the Sacred Space of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. after 12 noon. Memorial Service will be held at 1 pm followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers donations in John's memory to the Westeinde Family Fund at the Ottawa Community Foundation would be greatly appreciated by his family.