Cyril Pius MACDONALD

Cyril Pius MacDonald
Cy passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 14, in Yaletown House in Vancouver. Cy was surrounded by his wife, Anne, seven children, Catherine, Murray, Marilyn, Peggy, Maureen, Mariann, Terry, and his sister, Kay MacDonald. Cyril Pius "Cy" MacDonald was born on the leap year, February 29, 1928. This coming February would have marked his 22nd birthday. Cy's father, Walter MacDonald, and mother, Lillian Driscoll, moved to Saskatchewan from Prince Edward Island shortly after the First World War. Cy's brothers, Ron, Jack, Bob, and his sister, Kay, grew up in Saskatoon. Cy went on to become a prominent educator, political figure and businessman in Saskatchewan. Cy enrolled at Pere Murray's Notre Dame College in 1945. He completed High School and his Undergraduate studies at the College. With the help of a personal loan from Archbishop Michael O'Neil, Cy went east to St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where he earned a BEd degree in 1950. In 1951 he married Anne Sullivan. They moved their young family back to Wilcox in 1953. For the next 15 years he taught English and coached football and hockey at his beloved Notre Dame College in Wilcox. Cy is a member of the Notre Dame Wall of Honour, and Honorary Life Member of the Notre Dame Alumni Association. His mentor and inspiration, Monsignor Pere Athol Murray, encouraged Cy to run for political office. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Saskatchewan assembly in 1960 before being elected in 1964. He represented Milestone from 1964 to 1975, and from 1975 to 1982, Qu'Appelle-Wolseley, in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, as a Liberal. In 1966, Cy was appointed to the Cabinet and moved his family into Regina. He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Industry and Commerce and as Minister of Welfare and Youth. He was given the responsibility for leading a major initiative to expand physical, cultural, and social activities for young people throughout the province. The Saskatchewan Youth Act, passed in 1965, laid the foundation for the creation of the Department of Culture and Youth. He ran for the leadership of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party in 1971. After his political career Cy joined his brother Ron in Calgary. Together they ran Superior Mud, an oil service company. In the 1986-87, Cy returned to Regina and founded Strategy West, a public relations and event management company until his retirement in 1992. Cy will be forever remembered by his many friends, teammates students, players, and colleagues, for his ever present smile, constant encouragement and enthusiasm, his loyalty and integrity. He is survived by the love of his life, and partner of 64 years, Ann (nee Sullivan), his seven children: Catherine (John MacKenzie), Murray (Kim MacDonald), Marilyn (Jerry Nies), Peggy, Maureen (Terry Orpen), Mariann (Ted Townshend), Terry (Gord Schwartz), His 12 grandchildren: Alexandra, John, Kailin, Brendan, Tyler, Riley, Cory, Ariel, Ryan Cyril, Julian, Dani, Liam, as well as 7 great- grandchildren: Olivia, Samuel, Margot, Jack, Emma, Brooke and Max, and his sister Kay MacDonald of Saskatoon and brother Bob (Joan) of Whiterock, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cy and Anne MacDonald scholarship at the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, P.O. Box 100, Wilcox, SK, S0G 5E0; or www.notredame.ca; 306-732-2080.