Dan Yakimchuk passed away at the An Cala Palliative Care Unit of Cape Breton Regional Hospital on Saturday, March 19, 2011.  

Born in Sydney, Dan was the son of the late Daniel and Madeline (Baker) Yakimchuk. In addition to his parents, Dan was predeceased by his brother, Richard, and sisters, Georgina (in infancy) and Agnes (McCormick).

Dan is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Clotilda Douglas Yakimchuk; four children: Dale Anne (John Edwards), Dena Kyryluk (Mike), Madeline, and Danny (Connie McPherson); and five step children: Sharon (Isa Ford), Carl (Margaret), Valerie O’Neale (Cyrus), Leslie (Dockery Shaw), and Kenny (Lynnette). Dan is also survived by sisters Dorothy, Julia Borshis, Angela Kavanaugh, Mary Morris, Rose Murphy, Elizabeth MacDonald, and Teresa Penny (Ronald); one brother, Charles; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces.

In addition to his career at Sydney Steel, Dan was a lifelong learner, community activist, trade unionist, civic leader, and, in his later years, seniors’ rights advocate.  Dan served as Sydney’s Ward 5 Alderman for two terms in 1972 and 1979 and was involved in many community organizations, including the Cape Breton Council of Senior Citizens and Pensioners, Cape Breton Labour Council, Sydney Whitney Pier Credit Union, Joint Action Group, Cape Breton District Health Authority, and the Nova Scotia Task Force Investigating Elder Abuse, and many others.

Dan volunteered his time to various community groups, including Loaves and Fishes and Open Your Heart Shelter. He received many awards for commitment to public service, including the Certificate of Appreciation (NS Human Rights Commission, 1972), Nova Scotia Remarkable Seniors Award (1998), Activist of the Year (Council of Canadians, 2002) and Volunteer - Outstanding Service/Contribution to the Community (Federal Government, 2003).

Dan’s sense of community is best described in his own words: “I am so proud of being a Canadian and a Cape Bretoner. I think I owe it to the community and to my island to put something back in.” 

There will be no visitation. His remains have been donated to Dalhousie University (Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology) for the advancement of medical education and research. 

 

We sincerely thank the staff of the Palliative Care Unit for their exemplary care to Dan and his family.

 

A celebration of Dan’s life will take place at a future date. Memorial donations may be made to Palliative Care or the Alzheimer’s Society of Nova Scotia.