09/08/2026
Very sad news from the ALS community.
It is with heavy hearts that we join Bill Duff’s family, friends, and everyone who knew and loved him in mourning his passing.
Bill was a proud father of Liam and Eva, and a veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy, where he served for 16 years as a marine systems engineer. Diagnosed with ALS at just 29, he lived with the disease for 10 years, facing its devastating realities with honesty, courage, and determination.
Bill described ALS as “a relentless thief” but he refused to be defined by what the disease took away from him. Even in his hardest days, he focused instead on what he could give back to the ALS community. He was funny, direct, and generous.
Bill shared his story and advocated because he felt it was his responsibility to do so, especially for his friends who had already lost their battle with ALS, and he carried that responsibility with remarkable grace. Through his own page, “Team Bill Duff,” he invited others into his life with vulnerability and humour. He continued to use his voice, even when ALS took away his ability to speak, because he wanted the next generation of people diagnosed with ALS to have answers he never did.
In recognition of his tireless advocacy and awareness efforts, Bill was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025. His dedication helped bring people together, raise awareness of ALS, and inspire action in Nova Scotia and across Canada. He also helped shape the ALS Canada Community Ambassador Program, leaving a lasting mark of hope on the community and inspiring others to join the fight against ALS.
Even in his final days, Bill was extraordinarily generous in sharing his experiences and advocating with the ALS Society of Canada, calling on the federal government to invest $50 million in the Canadian Collaboration to Cure ALS, to better understand and treat ALS. Especially important, given the connection between ALS and people who have served in the military. His story will continue to inform decision-makers and inspire others to take action.
Bill fought on his own terms, for his kids, and for a world free of ALS. That fight now belongs to all of us who were lucky enough to know him.
We will miss Bill dearly. We are grateful for his service, his generosity, and the powerful legacy he leaves with the ALS community.
