Metro Tiechko

It is with great sadness, the family of the late Metro Tiechko announces his passing at the Sherbrooke Community Centre in Saskatoon, SK, on October 19, 2022, at 99 years of age.
Metro was born in the village of Debeslavsi (in what was normally part of Ukraine but was under Polish control at the time of his birth) on December 11, 1922, with the given name of Dmetro. His parents were Petro and Paraska (nee Danyluk) Tiechko. His parents decided to immigrate to Canada in search of a better life in 1927. The family settled next to Devil’s Lake (presently Good Spirit Lake) and he attended Wysla School. After leaving school, he worked extremely hard at various farms and bush camps to save money so he could start a farm of his own. He married Mathilda Gondziola on June 11, 1949, and they started mixed farming on land he purchased next to Good Spirit Lake, not far from his parents’ homestead. They raised 3 children, Karen, Vionne, and Orville. In 1965, he was granted his Canadian Citizenship. In 1973, they built a house in Canora and in 1987 Metro and Mathilda retired from farming.
Metro was a man of many talents. He was a very good athlete and as a youth in school and later as a young man he won many a race at the school/community picnics which were common back in those days. He was also a very good horseshoe player and his competitive drive continued throughout his life. In his 90s, as a resident of Preston Park in Saskatoon, he was the gold medal winner in shuffleboard in their ‘Seniors’ Olympics’. Unfortunately for him, his prowess led to no one wanting to play him anymore! He also learned to do taxidermy from a book he purchased. Fishing was one of his favourite activities and he enjoyed seasonal mushroom picking. He was noted for his shishliki marinating and cooking skills. There are numerous fond recollections of shishliki parties at the lake/farm with relatives and friends. After retiring, Metro became famous for his perogies (his recipe and technique has been passed on to folks in Canada, Taiwan, and Japan), rice pudding, and making a delicious soup out of almost anything! He was however careful about his diet and exercise, and in his senior years he built a homemade stationary bike and was coordinated enough to wave soup cans in his hands for upper body fitness while he pedalled away.
A product of the norm of his day, he had to leave school after grade 8 to go and work even though he enjoyed school and was a very good student. He and Mathilda (also forced to leave school early) were passionate in their commitment to education for their children since they could not explore their full educational potential. He lobbied strongly for children in the countryside to be bussed to Canora for a better education. And once bussing was in place there were a number of times in winter blizzards where the busses couldn’t run but he braved the elements to drive his and brother George’s kids to school – there were no ‘Snow Days’ in his vocabulary! He was also a strong believer in advocating for the rights of farmers and was very actively involved in the Farmer’s Union movement. He was keenly interested in politics at every level and served the residents of Division 5 as Councillor in the R.M. of Good Lake for 8 years.
He and Mathilda were great fans of watching curling and the Toronto Blue Jays and were thrilled to be able to see the Blue Jays play live twice. He also enjoyed travelling with Mathilda until she passed away in 1996. Trips to Hawaii, Florida, Barbados, Mexico, Japan, east across Canada, and a number of times to Alberta and BC created many cherished memories. Metro also enjoyed reading voraciously while his eyesight was still good. He loved to dance, and he and Mathilda spent many an hour twirling at dance parties and weddings over the years. And oh, the fun they had playing cards with relatives and neighbours throughout the years! Even at the age of 99 he still loved to play Hola and could keep track of cards that had been played each game – on one occasion even after playing for 4 hours straight!
He was fair, humble, considerate, and compassionate to all. He was also passionate about his family and taking care of and providing for them. He was generous to a fault and in his later years when his family would buy him gifts on special occasions he would say “Why are you wasting money on me – I’m on my way out!”. Fortunately for his family and friends “on his way out” lasted for about 10 odd years. He will be dearly missed by all. Metro was predeceased by his parents, Petro and Paraska, and his siblings: Annie, Bill, Mary, George, Belle, Norman, Roman and Myron.
He will always be lovingly remembered by his daughters, Karen Tiechko of Saskatoon, SK, and Vionne (Bill) Henley of Saskatoon, SK; son, Glen Orville (Teruyo) Tiechko of Chilliwack, BC; and his grandchildren: Bryce Henley of Saskatoon, SK, Joe Henley of Taipei, Taiwan, and Courtney and Connor Tiechko, both of Vancouver, BC.
A Celebration of Life Service was held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2022, from the Chapel of Leson’s Funeral Home, Canora, SK, with Shawna Leson as certified celebrant. Interment followed in the Canora Cemetery, Canora, SK. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of Metro Tiechko.