Nick Topolnyski

February 24, 1925 - July 28, 2013

The family of Nicholas (Nick) Topolnyski is sad to announce his sudden passing in Calgary on Sunday, July 28 at the age of 88 years. Nick was born in Kisseliw, Ukraine. He arrived in Canada in 1947, completed high school in Regina and attained his Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Manitoba in 1954. After graduation, he was hired by Canadian Gulf Oil (later Gulf Canada Resources) where he worked for 30 years until his retirement at age 60.

Dad married Helen Bahniuk in 1954 and together they raised a family of five children. They briefly resided in Estevan, Sask., Calgary and Edmonton, and then spent 18 years in Stettler, Alberta, before finally moving to Calgary where Nick completed his working career with Gulf and established his retirement residence. Dad was predeceased by Helen in 2007. He is survived by his loving children: Mark (Ruth), Catharine (Jim), Tania, George (Marguerite) and Taras (Michelle); nine grandchildren Christopher, Alexandra, Jaime, Maria, Luc, Jordan, Emily, Niko and Dominik; many nephews and nieces in Canada and Ukraine; and by friends throughout the world.

Dad had a passion and love for his family and friends, and was fully dedicated to them and his community at large. He participated in service clubs such as Kiwanis and Lions, the Canadian Legion, and various Ukrainian associations in many of the communities where he lived. After retirement, he served for three years on the Board of Directors of the Alberta Cultural Heritage Foundation.

Dad was a dedicated Oilers hockey and Riders football fan and enjoyed catching as many games as possible in between his favourite pastime of reading. Dad always enjoyed a good game of cribbage and taught his grandchildren to play crib, chess and scrabble. He enjoyed a glass of scotch and the occasional beer with friends. Family gatherings around the dinner table were some of his favourite events. Many will miss his sense of humour and gift for telling stories about his youth, war-time events and hunting adventures. He enjoyed the great outdoors and loved gardening, camping, fishing and hunting. He also maintained contact with his relatives and friends in his beloved Ukraine and was absolutely dedicated to his most favourite place on earth - Canada.

Thank you to Dr. Glen Gould for the outstanding medical care and compassion to both Dad and Mom during their Calgary years. Thank you to the staff at The Lodge at Valley Ridge which Dad called home the last seven years.

Nick’s ashes will be interred beside his loving wife, Helen in Queen’s Park Cemetery in Calgary. The family will be holding a Celebration of Life reception on August 17, the venue to be announced at a later date. Photos, memories and condolences may be shared with Nick’s family by visiting www.evanjstrong.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to DIRECT-MS (5119 Brockington Road, N.W., Calgary, AB, T2L 1R7 or online at www.direct-ms.org). 

When we come into this world,
We cry and everyone else rejoices.
When we leave this world, 
Everyone else cries – but we rejoice. 
- Unknown