Joseph Edward Shaykewich

It is with great sadness and sorrow that we announce the unexpected passing of Joseph Edward Shaykewich on May 3, 2022, at the age of 76 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Joe was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 9, 1945, to a family of Polish immigrants, and was raised on a farm in Springfield, Manitoba. He was predeceased by his parents Peter and Frances Shaykewich. He leaves to mourn his loving wife, Halyna Davidovich, his brothers Carl (Margaret), Walter (Linda) and sister Mary (Fred), stepdaughter Oksana (Bohdan), grand-children Arianna and Ruslan, as well as nieces and nephews David, Jennifer, Suzanne, and Jonathan.

Joe graduated from the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba and then trained as a meteorologist in Kingston, Ontario. His first assignment with Environment Canada was in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba and subsequently in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He finally settled at Environment Canada headquarters in Toronto, Ontario as chief of meteorological services. During his tenure as a meteorologist, Joe attended many international conferences and delivered papers and talks pertaining to research in public weather services. He also represented Canada internationally at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). One of his most important contributions, one that touches the lives of all Canadians during the cold winter months, was spearheading the research for the Canadian windchill program.

As a retired scientist, Joe not only pursued an active retirement focused on volunteerism and civic duties, but he also enjoyed many interests and hobbies. He served as a two-term president of the National Association of Federal Retirees (York Branch). In addition, his environmental activism contributed to the successful preservation of the Dunlap Observatory and part of the surrounding land.

For many years Joe was a member of the Heritage Committee in Richmond Hill and he volunteered as a marshal at the Bathurst Glen Golf Course. Once he became a snowbird, Joe spent his winters volunteering as a tour guide at the Naples Conservancy in his beloved Naples, Florida. Given his love of the outdoors, he perfected his skills as an avid nature photographer with an interest in birds. Aside from being a resourceful handy-man, Joe loved golfing, winemaking, woodworking, and gardening.Also, it is a little-known fact that, in his early years, Joe had obtained a pilot’s license and could fly private planes.

Despite his numerous accomplishments, Joe was a very humble, kind, and gracious person with a wry sense of humour and easy-going disposition. He was a remarkable human being and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations (in memoriam) may be made to World Central Kitchen (wck.org) to help feed the Ukrainian refugees in Poland fleeing from Russia’s invasion.

A visitation for Joseph will be held Sunday, May 8, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes, 8088 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON L4J 1W3. A funeral service will take place on Monday, May 9, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. at Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kanejerrett-thornhill.ca for the Shakewych family.