Mike Horwich

A proud Canadian, Dad was born in Toronto, Ontario, on September 2, 1929, and was the first member of his family to be born in Canada. He was predeceased by his two older siblings, William (Bill) and Mary, as well as his parents, Dmytro and Anne Hryhorchuk, all of whom were post-war newcomers to Canada from Ukraine.

As the youngest son of a Canadian immigrant family, Dad learned early in life that making smart - and sometimes difficult - choices, when paired with education and hard-work, yield the best results. He understood that there are no shortcuts on the path to success, and that true prosperity is measured by the strength, joy, support and unconditional love that only family can provide. He demonstrated this wisdom very early in life by choosing our mother, Charlotte Ann (Leaman) Horwich, to be his wife and life-long companion.

In addition to our mother, Dad is survived by his four children Michael (Sharon), Jim (Debbie), Chris (Janet), and Joy (Daryl), together with seven grandchildren, Claire, Peter, Gregory, Timothy, Elizabeth, Julia and Victoria and three great-grandchildren, Henry, Johnny and Sylvia.

As a young man, Dad was a fiercely competitive and a proud member of the Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club having competed in many rowing regattas throughout Ontario and northern USA. His greatest achievement as an oarsman came in 1952 when his crew won the prestigious Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in the men’s eights, under 145-pound weight class. Following that victory, his team trained daily with the Canadian Senior Men’s Olympic Team in preparation for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Dad was a steadfastly loyal and active Scottish Rite Mason 33rd degree and a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Anglican Church. He fulfilled his duties to both with enduring commitment, contributing to a wide array of roles and capacities for more than seventy years

All his life, Dad was an avid outdoorsman and a voracious reader, with an incredible ability to remember almost everything he ever read, every place he had ever been, and every person he ever encountered. His memory was unmatched, even as he advanced in age.

While outward praise was not his way, Dad always acknowledged with quiet but abundant pride, our accomplishments, driven by his unwavering desire for the best for his family. We thank you for that, Dad.

Visitation will be held on Sunday October 5th, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday October 6th at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 3 Dakin Drive, Halifax.

To honour our father's memory, we welcome donations to St. Peter’s Anglican Church or any charity of your choice.