Memorable Manitobans: John Walter Atamanchuk (1930-2009)

Educator.

Born at the Rural Municipality of Mossey River on 1 May 1930, son of Stephen and Mary Atamanchuk, his early years were spent at Fishing River. He began a teaching career in the Swan River Valley, including a stint at Dunkinville School (1949-1950). There he met Olga Shirley “Ollie” Rudniski (1934-2022) and, on 11 July 1953, they were married. The couple had three children.

He was Principal of Birch River Collegiate (1954-1958), after which he moved to Winnipeg and earned a BA and BEd from the University of Manitoba. Following graduation, he taught in the Seven Oaks School Division at Edmund Partridge Junior High (?-?) and Garden City Collegiate (?-?). He relocated to the St. James-Assiniboia School Division where he was an advocate for special needs education and the availability of sports and arts programming. He served as Principal of Ness Junior High School (1965-1975), Golden Gate Junior High School (1975-1979), Silver Heights Collegiate (1979-1981), and John Taylor Collegiate (1981-1990), after which he retired.

An avid sports fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Winnipeg Goldeyes, he also enjoyed curling, baseball, and golf. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and founding member of St. Basil’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

He died at Winnipeg on 29 May 2009 and was buried in the Assumption Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Sources:

Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.

Anniversaries, Winnipeg Free Press, 12 July 2008, page 116.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 6 June 2009, page C14.

Obituary [Olga Shirley Atamanchuk], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 November 2022.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 7 November 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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