Pharmacist.
Born at Winnipeg on 15 September 1922 to Sarah Cherniak (1892-1927) and Louis Orlikow (1890-1965), he grew up in the Elmwood neighbourhood. During the Second World War, he served 38 months as a radar operator at Spider Island on Canada's west coast for the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the war, he went to university on a veteran’s scholarship, and graduated from the University of Manitoba Pharmacy Class of 1948.
His first job was at the original Broadway Pharmacy. Then, in the 1950s, he and his brother David Orlikow bought Saunderson Drugs on Main Street, re-naming it Orlikow Drugs. He worked there for 19 years. He went on to hold positions with the Advisory Committee on Drug Purchasing, the Inter-changeable Drug Formulary, and Pharmacare. After retirement, he served for several years as a locum pharmacist at Churchill, Gillam, Notre Dame, and elsewhere, and also attended pharmacy conventions regularly. In all, his career in field lasted 64 years. His service was recognized when he received a Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) and Pharmacist of the Year in Manitoba (1982). In 2003, at the age of 81, he was honoured with a Life Membership in the Manitoba Society of Pharmacists and a lifetime membership in the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association.
With his brothers, Lionel Orlikow and David Orlikow, who were political leaders and held positions in provincial and federal governments, he was an active supporter of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) and enjoyed participating in the political process, volunteering in several election campaigns in the Winnipeg North, Rossmere, and Transcona ridings. He also did volunteer work for the General Monash Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Middlechurch Home long-term care facility, the Parkinson Society, as well as other committees and memberships. After moving to the Simkin Centre Personal Care Home in 2008, he served on its Residents Council.
In 1949, he married Helen Marjorie Paton Davie (1923-2007), and they had two sons.
He died at Winnipeg on 6 December 2012 and was buried in the Thomson-in-the-Park Cemetery. After his death, friends and family established the Archie Orlikow Memorial Bursary for pharmacy students at the University of Manitoba.
Obituary [Helen Marjory Paton Orlikow], Winnipeg Free Press, 22 May 2007.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 11 December 2012.
Archie Orlikow Memorial Bursary, Senate Committee on Awards, University of Manitoba, 25 June 2013.
“Aaron (Archie) Orlikow,” Collishaw-Smith Family tree, Ancestry.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 6 July 2026
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