Educator.
Born at Alliston, Ontario on 16 October 1946, one of four children of Mary McIvor McColl (1915-2004) and David Oliver Reece (1916-1973), he moved with his family to Calgary, Alberta in 1955, then settled in 1964 in Winnipeg, as his father took on United Church ministries in those cities. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in History in 1968 from the University of Winnipeg, followed by a BEd degree from the University of Alberta. He taught at several schools in the Winnipeg School Division, including Churchill High School (1986-1987) for over 30 years before retiring in 2002.
In retirement, he kept active in promoting history in education. He returned to the classroom many times after officially retiring in order to help both struggling and gifted students. He helped to promote the teaching of Canadian history through his work with Historica and the University of Winnipeg, on such projects as the “Doors Open Winnipeg” banners project, as well as the annual Summer Institute for teachers. He also attended international conferences, often giving presentations on his work in the area of educating gifted and talented individuals. Besides being passionate about history and education, he had a great appreciation for stamps, Aboriginal art, photography, gardening, and crossword puzzles, and enjoyed many summers at Victoria Beach. He and wife Iris had two children before divorcing.
He died at Winnipeg on 1 May 2010. The Philip Reece Memorial Bursary for Indigenous Students was established posthumously in his honour at the University of Winnipeg.
Obituary [David Oliver Reece], Winnipeg Free Press, 18 June 1973, page 27.
Obituary [Mary Reece], Winnipeg Free Press, 24 March 2004.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 4 May 2010.
Yaskiw/Reece/Coward/Stewart Extended Family Tree, Ancestry.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 19 November 2025
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