Animal trainer.
Born at Canora, Saskatchewan on 10 February 1943 to Mildred Kowch (1917-2010) and John Anonychuk (1915-1968), he graduated from St. Andrew’s College (Winnipeg) with a Bachelor of Divinity degree and pre-masters’ classes in Sociology. He decided to enter a career better suited to his love for animals by breeding and training champion German Shepherd dogs and Thoroughbred racehorses.
In 1971, he started the K9 unit for the Winnipeg City Police. During his many years working with his animals, he became a lifetime member of the Canadian Kennel Club and the German Shepherd Schutzhund Club of Manitoba. He also served as a CKC Judge and bred the only dog ever to be awarded the Bankers Gold Medal for Heroism. His Equine Stables conducted a groom school in 1976, and he co-published a “Race Fans Manual” in 1979 for Assiniboia Downs that provided a variety of information about horse racing.
In 1990, he became a board member of the National Canadian Thoroughbred Society, Vice President in 1992, and President in 1994. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the Horsemen’s Benevolent Protection Association and became Head Animal Wrangler/Trainer for the Manitoba Motion Picture Industry, where he worked with not only dogs and horses, but also deer, racoons, pigs, chickens, cats, rats, and birds. His Canisphere Kennels near Garson even saw him caring for a lion and a few wolves.
With his wife Karen Shiels he had seven children.
He died at Winnipeg on 6 May 2007 and was buried in the St. Boniface Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 8 May 2007.
“Lawrence Ivan Anonychuk,” Liptak/Nimeck Family Tree, Ancestry.
“Mr. Amazing,” Assiniboia Downs Gaming and Event Centre, 7 July 2023.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 5 August 2024
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