John Ewashko Obituary
- St.Mary the Protectress Cathedral
- Feb 3
- 3 min read
John Ewashko passed peacefully on Friday January 30, 2026 at Misericordia Hospital after being transferred from the Cardiac Care Unit in St. Boniface Hospital. He is deeply loved. His memory lives on with his family, including his loving wife, Luba; children, Patricia, Laurence (Russell), Larissa; grandchildren Kayla (Byron), and Jacob; and nieces and nephews Darusia Kozelko (John), Alexandra, Nicolas and Timon; Tara and Sophie Stebnicki; Stan Fisher (Stan Jr), Kim Ewashko, Kyla Ewashko (Deon, Dante), Bonnie Huber, Terry Huber and their families. He was predeceased by his parents, siblings, in-laws and other family members.
John was born in Holdfast, Saskatchewan in 1929, the second of four children, to parents Lawrence and Frances, who had recently immigrated from Ukraine. He grew up in Regina and joined the RCMP in 1949. After training in Regina and Ottawa, he was transferred to Winnipeg in 1950 and worked in detachments in Selkirk, Teulon, Gimli, Steinbach and Winnipeg.
Early in the spring of 1955 he met Luba, the love of his life, they courted for approximately 6 months and married in November of that year. They had a huge reception at the UNF Hall in St, Boniface. In 1958, they were transferred to Altona where John was in charge of the detachment that covered southern Manitoba to the US border. In 1966, after 8 years in Altona, he was transferred to RCMP Headquarters in Ottawa where the family made their home for 36 years.
In 1967 he was one of 5 RCMP officers selected to guard Queen Elizabeth II during her visit for Canada’s Centennial year. While working in the RCMP Training division, he studied part time and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Carleton University in 1970. Also in 1970, he was assigned to special security detail during the FLQ crisis.
The family became a pillar of the Ukrainian community in Ottawa, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. John ran weekly church bingos, organized the annual Malanka celebration and was a member of the Church executive, Church choir and the Order of St Andrew’s.
In 1974 after 25 years in the RCMP, John retired and joined the Atomic Energy Control Board, where he was responsible for security, safeguards and inspections nationally and internationally. He also served on the Executive of the RCMP Veterans Association.
John retired fully in 1989 and in 2002 the couple moved back to their roots in Winnipeg to live closer to their families in Winnipeg and Saskatchewan, and to be with their daughter Larissa and grandchildren. John was devoted to his family and community, was kind, caring, patient and understanding, and always willing to help. He was a role model and father figure, sharing his deep-seated values and convictions with love and laughter. He maintained lifetime friendships with many people over the years, including childhood friends, RCMP colleagues and people in the Ukrainian community.
John donated generously to a variety of organizations. More recently, he established the Ewashko Family Award, a music scholarship fund at the University of Ottawa, that supports students who perform music composed by Ukrainian or Ukrainian-Canadian composers.
The family is especially thankful to our family physician, Dr Terry Babick, for his unwavering support and to the caring and compassionate medical staff at St Boniface and Misericordia hospitals.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Ewashko Family Award at University of Ottawa’s donation site or to a charity of your choosing.
A Funeral service will be held on February 5, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Korban Funeral Chapel, 907 Main St., Winnipeg, MB. (to see the livestream of the funeral please visit the chapel page at 11 a.m. - Obituary for John Ewashko | Korban Funeral Chapel)
Vichnaya Pamiat’