WiFi HiFi is saddened to announce the passing of George Finlayson, former president, partner, and CEO of Visions Electronics. He passed away on December 23, 2025 at the age of 60.
George leaves behind Rebecca, his wife of 30 years, who was his “partner in crime, life, love, and business,” she says. He also leaves behind his two children Edward (Colleen) and Blake, and grandchildren Noelle, William, and Oliver. He is survived by his mother Virginia, mother-in-law Grace (Mike), sister-in-law Brandise (Ethan), brothers Mike (Michelle) and Bob, as well as several nieces and nephews, cousins, and hundreds of friends and former colleagues from around the world.
George was born in Edmonton on May 5, 1965, but his family moved to Spence Bay near the North Pole when he was a baby. Through his life, he has lived all over, including Vancouver, Yellowknife, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, and Calgary before settling in his final home on the beach in La Cruz Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico, just north of Puerto Vallarta near Punta de Mita in the beautiful Bahia de Banderas (Banderas Bay). He loved, says Rebecca, “watching the whales jumping in the ocean right from our living room.”
Naturally, given his dedication to the AV industry, George loved music and his stereo with a passion. This stems from his time growing up at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver with family friends. He got his start in the industry at Standard Stereo circa 1981-1982, then moved on to work at Yellowknife Radio in 1985-1986 before joining Visions in 1987, where he worked as a shipper/receiver in the warehouse. At the time, the retailer was known as Video Vision.
Through the decades, George worked his way up to president and CEO, a post he held from 2015 through his retirement in 2018. Prior to that, he was president from 2008 through 2015. Other positions he held at the retailer included sales associate, retail store manager, assistant store manager, regional manager, director of sales and marketing, and vice president of operations. Needless to say, George knew the consumer technology retail business inside and out. He spent a lot of time traveling as part of his job as well, and Rebecca says he especially loved going to Asia and Europe. “He was so lucky to have travelled all over the world with work and supplier trips.”
After retiring in April 2018, George and his wife focused on family real estate projects they had on the go, including the construction of an eight-bay commercial warehouse in Regina. “We had been coming to Mexico since the early 2000s,” says Rebecca, “until we bought a condo. It was our vacation home since 2009 for several weeks at a time, a few times a year, until moving here permanently full time in 2019. We then moved within the same complex to our beach house, which underwent a full renovation in 2021 until now. We got an RV and gave it a try a couple of summers, but it turned out it wasn’t totally our thing.”
Along with his deep passion for the AV industry and for his family, George was a huge Formula 1 fan, says Rebecca, who attended many races around the world. He was also a talented chef, both in the kitchen and outside on the smoker. During the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, Rebecca recalls their popular “quarantine kitchen” Facebook posts documenting their step-by-step cooking that George loved creating.
“He loved cars since he was a young boy,” she adds. He had been recently restoring his beloved 1975 Datsun 280 Z in Guadalajara. “He was very handy, knew how to fix anything, and he was a very, very smart businessman and a super hard worker. He was very good at renovating and had a very keen eye for design and function. He was very good at planning surprises and keeping them a secret and at picking out gifts for people. He was a very loyal person throughout his career, family, and friends. He was very kind and generous.”
She notes how George’s bubbly personality and drive quickly made him a key figure within their condo community, where he served as treasurer, vice president, and president of the Civil Association and Vigilance Association.
“George had a wide circle of friends and colleagues built on trust, respect, and personal connection,” the community wrote about George. “He will be deeply missed by all who had the opportunity to live and work with him. We honour his legacy and pray that he rests in peace.”
“I have had the pleasure of knowing George as both a work colleague and a personal friend for more than 30 years,” says Mo Rouleau, former president and CEO of Visions. “Over those decades, one thing was always clear: George truly valued the relationships he built. People mattered to him. Whether through work, friendship, or family, he invested his time and heart in those connections.
George had a genuine love for the electronics industry and a deep passion for audio and music,” Rouleau continued. “It wasn’t just a career for him—it was something he truly enjoyed and took pride in. That passion showed in the way he spoke, the way he listened, and the way he shared his knowledge with others.
“There’s no doubt that George lived life his way. He was devoted to his family and immensely proud of his boys. They were the centre of his world, and everything he did reflected that love. George also had a gift for bringing people together—he was a great cook, a wonderful conversationalist, and always willing to open his home and make you feel welcome. In the workplace, George treated everyone with respect. No matter your role, he took the time to listen. He cared about people, not titles, and that left a lasting impression on those who worked alongside him.”
Rouleau continued: “George will be remembered for his kindness, his passion, his generosity, and his loyalty to the people he loved. He leaves behind not just memories, but a legacy of connection, warmth, and authenticity. He will be deeply missed.”
“We are still in shock and heartbroken trying to process this news,” says Eddie Bozo, Director, New Business Development at Gemsen. “George was such a special man who spoke with so much pride about his family – it was impossible not to feel his love. We shared a passion for audio and cars. Spending hours listening to music on his hi-end audio system. Our last memory with George was visiting him in Mexico sharing hours of laughter, wine (lots), and an incredible meal he prepared with Rebecca. We will miss him deeply, especially that big, infectious laugh that could light up a room. We feel truly blessed to have shared many great moments together. To quote Billy Joel, ‘Only the good die young.'”
“George was a world class cook, entertainer, host, and friend,” adds Kyle Frizzley, George’s friend for almost 30 years and former national sales manager at Visions for about the same length of time. “He was Intelligent, funny, quick witted and always first with a great pun. He was an amazing leader with a sharp mind for business and people. He mentored and developed an entire generation of sales people, managers, and future leaders. His ferocity, generosity, and amazing personality impacted everyone he came in contact with. His legend will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who met him. To know George was to love him.”
“I’ve had the privilege of knowing George for 35 years in two capacities,” recalls Martin Huntington, former senior vice president at Sony Canada. “The first time we met was at his Visions store in Edmonton. I was transferred by Sony from the east to learn the western electronics landscape. We had a very good discussion about the business and life in Edmonton. We just clicked! We became not only good business colleagues but we were fortunate to forge a great personal friendship. George had an ability to be very present and bigger than life. He will be dearly missed by all. I will think of him often.”
There will be no funeral but there will be two celebrations of life, one in Mexico and one in Canada in the Spring of 2026.
