In memoriam: Ernest "Ernie" E. Kichuk

We mourn the loss of Ernest ("Ernie") Eugene Kichuk, who passed away on August 4th in Powell River, BC. He was predeceased by his parents and sister Alice and is survived by his brother Don (in Ecuador) and sister Diana (Wolfgang).

Ernest grew up on a small farm in Northern Manitoba. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces at 16 and served in the Middle East as part of a United Nations (UN) peace mission in the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It was a source of great pride when in 1988, he and all the peacekeepers in two UN peace missions were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1966, Ernie began his 25-year career with the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company (HBMSC) in Flin Flon, MB, including as an operations first line manager. It was in Flin Flon that he made some of his closest friends and established many of his lifelong interests, including travel, fishing, golfing and photography.

He was co-owner of a restaurant in Abbotsford for several years.

Ernie had a catastrophic workplace accident at the HBMSC in 1989 that changed the trajectory of his life. He suffered extensive, serious burns, especially to his lower legs, and suffered from scar tissue, pain and poor circulation for the rest of his life. In his last decade, Ernie had a cascade of major health problems.

His family would like to thank Ernie’s friends, and Powell River General Hospital staff, for their care and comfort.