William Day, the founder of a Sudbury construction company that employs hundreds of people, died Aug. 25 in Sudbury. He was 84.
Born in Escuminac, Que., Day spent his early years in the bush working alongside his father, Oben, before moving to Sudbury in the early 1950s.
"He had a half-ton, small single-axle, and plenty of drive to get him started,” reads Day's biography on the company's website. “In those days, the Sudbury region was just starting to come into its own."
Day got his first contract with the former community of Dowling, doing hauling work and snowplowing.
“Father and son teamed up and were soon contracted by both Falconbridge and the M.J. Poupore Lumber Company to do construction work and hauling,” the biography says.
In 1955, the Day Group was born. Today, the company has grown to include Day Construction, Day Aviation and Day Transport and employs more than 400 people.
Day and his wife, Rhona, had five sons, all of whom work for the company.
“He built his business in the Sudbury area, supporting the community and the many people he employed with his generosity,” Day's obituary says. “Bill worked every day up until his death.”
Funeral services are scheduled to be held in Sudbury on Aug. 30.
