Passages
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Forks in the road

There was a point in Nick Diakiw’s life when he was staring at a fork in the road.

An all-star quarterback at St. John’s Tech, the Point Douglas product was good enough to be courted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. But his parents, Ukrainian immigrants with an age-old work ethic, told him that a university education was the right path. So, Diakiw took a pass on CFL glory to hit the engineering books, while still managing to continue his football passion with the Winnipeg Rods.

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His degree in 1953 helped him move up the administrative ranks at the City of Winnipeg to the point where he became the chief commissioner in 1978, a role that had him oversee all civic employees. Upon retirement from the city in 1988, there was another fork in the road. This one led to the creation of The Forks, as Diakiw became the president and chief executive officer of The Forks Renewal Corporation, a role that was among his proudest accomplishments.

Diakiw’s community commitments were numerous, with service on boards included, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Winnipeg Enterprises Corp., Ukrainian Professional Business Club, Winnipeg Library Foundation, Holy Family Nursing Home, Manitoba Blue Cross, Winnipeg Hospital Authority and the Misericordia Hospital.

“Nick was a proud and dedicated Winnipegger,’’ read his Sept. 13 obituary in the Free Press. “He was a credit to his family, his profession, and to his community. We love him and we will miss him always.”

Nick was 95.

Read more about Nick here.

How They Lived

Joyce Lucille Haip was born and raised in Winnipeg before setting out for Toronto and then returning home.

Joyce worked for the CBC in Winnipeg, working in the film and 24-hour news department.

Joyce’s curiosity and love of learning led her to complete a BA in Classical Art and Architecture in 1988.

Read more about Joyce.


Michael Jack Mundrick spent most of life in Morse Place and attending schools in the area. Mike was quite an athlete before being diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Mike was self-employed but one of his interesting jobs included travelling all over Canada and the U.S. working the carnival midways.

Read more about Mike.


Grace Elizabeth Quinn was born in Winnipeg in 1926.

After her first marriage ended, she worked full-time at the Hudson Bay Company, where her eye for beauty and desire to learn more earned her the opportunity to be sponsored by The Bay to attend the Art Institute of Chicago’s Interior Design Program.

After completing the course she went on to set up The Bay’s first interior design department, serving clients from across the province until her retirement in 1991.

Read more about Grace.

 


A Life’s Story

Forty-seven years ago, George Klassen had an idea that improved the lives of millions of people in Bangladesh. It was for a hand-powered rower pump, a classic piece of simple, inexpensive and appropriate technology that poor farmers could use to irrigate their crops.

Today, an estimated 500,000 rower pumps are still in operation, benefitting more than 2.5 million people in that southeast Asian country — a legacy to Klassen’s vision, curiosity and ingenuity.

George Klassen’s rower pump invention, developed in Bangladesh, was designed to create jobs in the community. It was a highlight of his career. (Supplied)

George Klassen’s rower pump invention, developed in Bangladesh, was designed to create jobs in the community. It was a highlight of his career. (Supplied)

Klassen, who died on April 15 in Steinbach, spent his early years in Blumenort (near Gretna) before moving with his parents and 10 siblings to a farm near Steinbach. After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a B.Sc., he taught science and math in Nigeria with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) for three years.

There, he became convinced the best way he could serve people in the global south was by assisting them with practical skills and knowledge. With that in mind, when Klassen returned to Canada he decided to go back to the University of Manitoba to study engineering.

Read more about George.


Until next time, I hope you continue to write your own life’s story.

 

Kevin Rollason, Reporter

 

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