Died peacefully in Oakville, Ontario, aged 83. Predeceased by his first wife Jill, his son Neil, and brother Stewart. Lovingly remembered by his devoted wife Susan, sister Muriel, children Duncan, Fiona, Ian, and Catherine, and his extended family and grandchildren. Born in Chester, England, Alan spent some of his early years in Egypt and Kenya before returning to England to be educated at Sutton High School, Plymouth. His banking career began in 1953 when he joined Barclays Bank, UK. Alan worked in finance for many years in England and Canada, spent a brief time as the Managing Director of a public real estate company in Hong Kong, and eventually settled in Ontario, becoming Senior Vice President, Secretary & Compliance Officer, at Barclays Bank of Canada. He was a Governor of the Institute of Canadian Bankers, an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (England), a founder member and former President of the Institute of Corporate Directors, and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (UK). Alan devoted much time to charitable organizations, particularly ones relating to his Scottish heritage. A former President and Newsletter Editor of the Scottish Studies Foundation, Alan was an enthusiastic participant in many Scots-Canadian events, including the Colloquia at the University of Guelph. His interest in his family history led him to found the Canadian Chapter of the Clan MacKenzie Society in the Americas in 1987. Alan worked tirelessly to lead and promote the Mackenzie Society in Canada, and mounted a campaign to restore the Mackenzie castle, Castle Leod, near Strathpeffer, Scotland. In 2004, he coordinated the Mackenzie DNA Project, to help people explore their genealogy through DNA. For many years he was an active member of his local Burns Club, celebrating the work of the Scottish poet. Alan's pursuits were varied and numerous. He was a talented artist, collected and studied Russian stamps, lectured on famous historical crime cases, enjoyed travelling, and read voraciously. He was involved in a number of amateur dramatic societies and appeared on the stage in dozens of productions. His acting skills were also fully applied when reading stories aloud, to the delight of his grandchildren. Alan was never bored, for there were always new things to try. Even after turning 80, he started taking piano lessons and creative writing classes. Kind, funny, ambitious and clever, he made an impression on so many. "If there's another world, he lives in bliss; If there is none, he made the best of this." - Robert Burns A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 24th. If desired, charitable donations in Alan's memory may be made to Ian Anderson House, Oakville, or the Scottish Studies Foundation.
Published in The Globe and Mail from Jan. 11 to Jan. 15, 2020

From the Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada:
With deepest sympathy, we announce the passing of our dear friend, founder and Honorary Life President of the Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada, Alan McKenzie. Alan passed away on January 2, 2020, peacefully and surrounded by his loving wife Susan and his family. A full tribute to Alan's life will be featured in the next issue of Cabar Feidh and an obituary is expected in the Globe and Mail newspaper this weekend with arrangements to be announced.
The Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada would not exist today were it not for Alan's passion and dedication to establishing a Canadian organization for Mackenzies. We will truly miss his guidance, spirit and commitment. May he rest in peace.

Words from Cabarfèidh
The following message of condolence and tribute to Alan was received from our Clan Chief, the Earl of Cromartie:
Alan McKenzie was a remarkable man and could correctly be termed a polymath. More importantly, he was gentleman with qualities that encompassed dignity with honour and wisdom with humour. He was also courageous and a realist who understood the vicissitudes of life and as his wife Susan said, "A real trooper." With optimism against cancer, he beat the dark angel time and time again and he fought the brave fight to the end with the same qualities he exhibited in his life. His support for everything that our Clan stood for spurred him to work tirelessly both in Canada where he was the original bedrock of the Canadian society and over the pond in Scotland where he championed Castle Leod and realized just what was possible and what was simply wishful thinking. He and I became good friends over many decades, and we chewed the proverbial fat over all sorts of issues. His editorship of your Cabar Feidh magazine was exemplary and the articles produced were original and well researched. It was a magazine to be proud of and showed just what could be achieved. Our own version in Scotland owes much to Alan’s input and the way it was laid out. His wider scholarship work in Canada and the promotion of all things Scottish at Guelph not to mention his long-time success with the lottery showed his long reach and his constant striving to help both the Clan MacKenzie and all things Scottish. We have lost a friend and fellow clansman and I and many others will miss him greatly. I am sure all our thoughts are with Susan and their extended family and that she and they may be comforted by how high an opinion we have of Alan.
-Cabarfèidh, Chief of Clan Mackenzie