Guy Percy Frederick Steed, 86, of Ottawa, passed away peacefully the morning of August 19th, 2025, having been surrounded for many weeks (he was a fighter!) by family, friends, love, laughter, live guitar music, and televised tennis.
Guy was born on October 20th, 1938, to Percy Hubert and Helena Mary (Bright) Steed in Singapore – his mother eschewing the convention of returning to England to give birth. In 1942, just ahead of the Japanese invasion, Guy escaped Singapore with his mother and sister (Anne Willett) on one of the last ships to Australia - which became his home until the end of the war in Europe.
Guy attended Streete Court school in Bognor Regis followed by Charterhouse school in Godalming, Surrey, England. In 1957 he entered Canada as a landed immigrant to study at McGill University in Montreal where he obtained a BA honors in 1961. Guy lectured at Queens University of Belfast in Northern Ireland from 1964 to 1965 while he undertook his postgraduate research; and in 1966 gained his PhD in economic geography at the University of Washington in Seattle.
After seeming to be continually on the go (he had by then lived more than a year in ten towns/cities, spread among six countries on four continents), Guy finally sought to settle in Canada. With extraordinary prescience (Guy’s own words), he married a Canadian nurse, Diana (Wood) Steed in 1967 and by 1971 they had three children: Timothy (Sofia), Nancy (Stéphane), and Robin (Jenna).
Following 10 years as an undergraduate and graduate student, Guy’s main working life lasted another 35 years. He spent 15 years as a tenured Professor of Geography and Regional Planning at Simon Fraser University (1966-75) and the University of Ottawa (1975-80). In 1980 he joined the Science Counsel of Canada (1980-92) as a Science Adviser and later became the Director of Programs. Guy concluded his career as a consultant after holding positions at Industry Canada (1992-96) as a Director General of Science and Technology, and as a Senior Advisor in the Science and Technology Strategy Branch. During his career Guy received international academic recognition for research on industrial linkages and regional industrial development. And as a specialist in science and technology policy, he authored more than 60 articles in professional journals, chapters in books, and many Science Council publications, including Threshold Firms: Backing Canada's Winners (1982).
Throughout his life, Guy found pleasure in competitive sports. An all-round athlete, he represented his schools in sports from diving and swimming to rugby, cricket, tennis, grass hockey, and soccer. In Canada, Guy played squash for McGill and captained the university’s soccer team. In the early 70’s he won one of the largest annual squash tournaments in Vancouver; and later in the 70’s did the same in Ottawa. He also spent many happy days on the courts of the Beacon Hill Tennis Club which he represented in the city league; and was a multiple time winner of the little-known but highly coveted Norway Bay men’s and mixed doubles tennis championships.
His family is enormously proud of him for all sorts of reasons – but especially for his 30+ years of perseverance with Parkinson’s, and not least for receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, awarded for his significant contributions to Parkinson Society Ottawa.
Guy is survived by his wife, children, and his adoring grandchildren Diego, Joshua, Nicholas, and Gabriel (who will dearly miss teasing him, and being teased by him).
A heartfelt thanks from his family to his PSWs and the palliative care team from Carefor.
Friends are invited to visit at Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue, on September 16th at 2:00p.m for a Celebration of life, followed by a reception.
Memorials or donations may be made to Parkinson Canada.
Livre de visiteurs
Katharine Caza
Gordon McLean
I fondly remember uncle Guy. He was always fun to play golf with at the course at Norway Bay, for his skill and demeanor. I was lucky to be able to spend time with the Steeds over the years and I always enjoyed uncle Guys insights.
My condolences to Auntie Di, Tim, Nancy and Robin and your families.
Suzanne Lacroix
To Diana and her family my most sincere condolences. I will remember Guy for his courage sense of humour and his kindness towards me.
Valerie Maier
Our condolences to you, Diana, and to your family. Guy always had a bright smile and a cheery hello as he walked our neighbourhood.
John Britton
Dear Diana and family;
I was greatly saddened to learn of Guy’s death. I can only guess at the way Parkinson’s made your lives very stressful.
My contact with Guy only began during the 1970s so I enjoyed reading the richly detailed obituary as it informed me about his early life. My memories are mainly academic ones as our research interests converged and consequently we met at annual conferences and then in Ottawa because of our work on industrial innovation. I greatly respected Guy’s research and policy ideas, but more than that I enjoyed his wry sense of humour and friendliness. I only wish that we had been able to put our heads together on more than the one writing project we shared and had been able to see more of each other.
My deepest condolences to you.
John Britton
Timothy Hodges
I had the pleasure of working with Guy at the Science Council of Canada for a good number of years before its closure. Guy was both respected and fondly thought of by all the staff. Intelligent, no airs, a sense of humour, and an uncompromising professional standard. He was a fine man, an excellent leader and a very good colleague and mentor.
With my sincere condolences.
Tim Hodges
Nathalie Le Coz
On behalf of your loving team you like spending 10 hours with, we are sending you and your loved ones, love and light.
Michael Jenkin and Phyllis Colvin
Michael worked with Guy both at the Science Council and Industry Canada for many years and he was both a wonderful and supportive colleague and a great friend whose dry sense of humour he fondly remembers. Having been friends of both Guy and Dianna we know how much he will be missed by all the family. Our love to you all.
Geoffrey Hewings
Diana and family
My sincere condolences on the passing of Guy and thank you for all the care you provided him especially during the last 3 decades. We overlapped for two years at the University of Washington and I appreciated Guy taking time to visit me in Canterbury where I had moved after completing my degree. We saw each other irregularly at conferences less so after he left academia. He was always gracious and kind and I was pleased when for him when you came into his life. His passing is the third of his cohort in the last two years (Bill Beyers and Allen Sommarstrom). I hope that memories of good times together help sustain you in the days and weeks ahead. Thank you again.
Peter Rees
I only now came across your obituary of Guy and am so sorry to learn of his passing. Guy and I go way back. We were undergraduates in the Geography Department at McGill, both gradating in 1961, after which we spent an idyllic summer as climatology assistants at McGill's research lab in Barbados, where we took daily measurements interspersed with a fair bit of snorkeling and calypso dancing. After that, our paths diverged and we had only sporadic contact but my memories of us together at McGill remain vivid. My sincere condolences to the family.
Sending hugs to you all.
So grateful for all the laughter and fun family memories over the years xxxx