Ex-Bombers official dies at age 61

By: Geoff Kirbyson Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011

HE may have been best known for his work with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but management and staff at the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission are remembering Ken Hildahl as a charismatic and caring leader who had time for everybody.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/08/2011 (5398 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The president and CEO of the MLCC died unexpectedly at his home Friday afternoon at the age of 61.

“We are profoundly sad and shocked at Ken’s passing. He was such a wonderful, kind and considerate man. To have lost somebody so young and unexpectedly, it’s hard for us to comprehend in a lot of ways,” said Carmen Neufeld, chairwoman of the MLCC board.

Hildahl wasn’t a corporate leader who ruled from an ivory tower. Neufeld said he visited all of the MLCC’s 50 stores throughout the province at least twice a year, met with the employees and got to know them.

Every Dec. 23, traditionally the busiest day of the year for liquor sales in the province, Hildahl rolled up his sleeves and worked in one of the retail stores.

“We got him a little trainee badge that said, ‘Hi, my name is Ken, I’m a trainee.’ We used to tease him that he wasn’t snapping the paper bags the way the seasoned cashiers did,” Neufeld said.

Even though he spearheaded the 48 recent changes to the provincial Liquor Act and was a master of getting opposing groups to come to the negotiating table, Neufeld said she’ll remember Hildahl for the little things he did.

She told the story of Olivia, a little girl with multiple disabilities, who was progressing well with her walking therapy. When told that one of the MLCC’s shopping carts would be the perfect size to aid her therapy — which included going room to room at her school collecting overdue books and returning them to the library — Hildahl asked for her address and phone number and took care of it. He even volunteered to write a personal cheque if the family was experiencing any financial issues.

Hildahl was hired at the MLCC in June 2009, shortly after leaving a senior role at Manitoba Blue Cross. Before that, he was director of operations for the Manitoba Government Employees’ Union.

He spent a decade on the Bombers’ board of directors, including five as chair, where he played an integral role in kick-starting the process of getting a new stadium built.

He is survived by his wife, Judy, and sons Jamie, Jeff and Tyler.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

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