MW Bro William Heffel

Grand Master

2013 – 2014

John William Heffel was born on April 26, 1940 in Freetown, PEI to William Wallace and Elva Grace Heffel. When he was two years old the family moved to Traveller’s Rest where “Billy” went to school for a part of the year before moving to Kensington where he attended school until 1957.

Following his schooling, Bill went to work for the Department of Highways, Charlottetown where he was selected to attend a Diesel Training Course. During the years 1958 and 1963 he worked for several car dealerships and in 1963 worked as a Marine Engineer for Bathurst Marine, N.B. , where he sailed as an engineer on the stern trawler “Howe Bay” out of Souris, PEI and in 1964 he went back to working with auto dealers in Souris and returned to Summerside in 1969 when he built an auto repair shop in Kensington. He worked as service manager at A.E. MacLennan Ltd in Summerside until 1980 when he went to Holland College to work as a diesel and heavy truck instructor in Summerside and Charlottetown. In 1986 he moved to Souris working as a Mechanic with Chapman Construction until 1989 when he returned to Summerside and started Island Fuel Injection which is still operating to-day servicing diesel engines and their fuel systems.

MW Bro Heffel was initiated on August 2, 1990 in Mount Zion Lodge No. 12, Kensington, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft September 6, 1990 and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason October 4, 1990. Installed as Worshipful Master of Mount Zion Lodge No.12 in 1998 and served a second term in 1999. Bill is also a Grand High Priest of Prince Edward Chapter No. 12, Royal Arch Masons in Kensington and served as Officer of the Second Veil of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Mason, NS. He is also a member of Nova Scotia Conclave No. 6, Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor and a member of the Garden of the Gulf Council No. 9 Royal and Select Masons, Charlottetown. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 2010, Senior Grand Warden in 2011, Deputy Grand Master in 2012 and Grand Master in 2013.

MW Bro Heffel attends Kensington United Church. He has previously served on the Automotive Apprenticeship Board and in 1985 was one of three members involved in finalizing the Red Seal Heavy Duty Mechanic Exam for all of Canada. He obtained his private pilot license in 1973 and was a member of the Slemon Park Flying Club and served on the Board of Directors as well as doing apprenticeship as aircraft mechanic He is a current member of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association as well as the Experimental Aircraft Association.

MW Bro Heffel married Marilyn Joan Bryanton of Kensington on April 28, 1962 and have two daughters Marla Murray and Oralie MacKay. They all reside in Kensington.