Memorable Manitobans: John Yuzyk (1913-2003)

Community activist.

Born at Rhein, Saskatchewan on 19 April 1913, son of Ukrainian immigrants Dmytro and Evdokia Yuzyk, and completed high school in Saskatchewan before taking postgraduate music degrees from the London College of Music. He worked in the Saskatchewan civil service before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving in London until 1945. After the Second World War, he worked in a series of businesses until settling on real estate sales in Winnipeg. Active in Ukrainian and veterans affairs, serving on the national executive of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Branch 141, and President of the Ukrainian Veterans Association (1971-1974). Known as the “Ukrainian Mitch Miller,” he recorded two albums of Ukrainian folk music in the 1960s. He managed Steve Juba’s mayoral campaign and was a committee member of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation. In recognition of his community service, he received the Manitoba Centennial Medal (1970) and Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002). He died at Winnipeg on 21 October 2003. He is commemorated by John Yuzyk Park in Winnipeg.

Sources:

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 25 October 2003.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 25 November 2020

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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