Obituary for Orest Tony Curniski
Orest Tony Curniski passed away in Olds, Alberta on June 22, 2022, peacefully with family by his side. He was born on August 29, 1940, in Claytonville, Saskatchewan, to Joseph and Elsie(Lydia) Curniski. Orest was their firstborn, and his mother just 18. Later he was a big brother to Ronald and then to sister Savelia. While growing up, his parents owned a number of small businesses in Saskatchewan.
When Orest started school, he could not speak English, only Ukrainian but quickly learned the English language. From a young age he loved being in the outdoors and often as a teenager
he would be gone all day hunting and trapping, returning at dusk. From very young hockey was always a favourite sport. He enjoyed playing on local hockey teams. He attended the Nipiwin school but graduated from Carpenter High School in Meadow Lake Saskatchewan.
The family moved to Saskatoon where he continued his education and received his Teachers Certificate. He was hired to teach in Spirit River, Alberta in 1961. Two years later he took a teaching position in Olds, Alberta. This is where Orest met Doreen Newsham, his future wife. He knew he needed a partner to share in his enthusiasm for adventure and met his match in Doreen.
In 1966, he attended University Calgary and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. During that summer he travelled through Europe. On his return he took a teaching position in Bowden. In 1968, after Doreen's trip to Europe they made plans to marry. They were married August 22, 1969 and settled in Bowden. Before starting a family, they spent a summer traveling in Australia. Orest was always interested in politics and community service and served on town council as deputy mayor.
In 1973, the family travelled north to visit a friend and to see the Yukon. While on the trip, they also stopped to see Atlin, B.C. They enjoyed the excitement of the gold mining industry and decided to purchase a gold lease on Spruce Creek, east of Atlin, B.C. later that year.
They still had a thirst for adventure and in 1977, they took the opportunity for Orest to teach in Haines Junction, Yukon. This was closer to the gold lease and was right in Kluane National Park. This provided many opportunities for many outdoor pursuits that they enjoyed such as hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Orest and Doreen fell in love
with the north and quickly became a part of the small community. Orest also became the town's mayor.
In 1979, they decided to try ranching and moved near Sundre, Alberta. The ranching did not work out, so Orest did a variety of jobs, including spending the winter working at an underground gold mine, near Atlin. He then took a landman position with Antelope Land Services. In 1982, he took an instructor position at the Olds College and set up the Land Agent Program. Orest helped the college expand the program in many ways. In 1992, he traveled to Russia and the Ukraine for two months - as he was fluent in Ukrainian - to explore oil and gas partnership opportunities on behalf of the college. In total, he taught at Olds College for 15 years. The position at the college worked out well for Orest - he would get the summer months off to spend in Atlin, B.C. at the gold lease. It was rustic living, with no running water, heat or electricity.
Orest was a busy Dad, watching his children participate in many activities, such as ringette, hockey, baseball, band concerts and piano performances. He was always there cheering them on and full of tips for the next game.
After working at the college, Orest went into consulting for the Beaver Indigenous Band at Prophet River, B.C. as an oil and gas coordinator for five years. Orest enjoyed what the area had to offer, with many opportunities to hunt, fish and roam the bush. On two different occasions he also went gold prospecting in Columbia, South America. Before retiring, he did contract truthing in the Grande Prairie area, for different oil and gas companies.
Orest lived a life that was big and full. He loved his wife and us kids unconditionally. He always encouraged his children to do their best be fearless and work hard. He was an avid outdoorsman, spending hours in the wilderness prospecting for gold, fishing, hunting, off-roading and snowmobiling. The northern experiences he lived with his family, are too many to
tell. In total, he spent 42 summers gold mining in the Yukon and B.C.
Orest loved to talk and debate. Many will remember long conversations about mining, politics,
and the oil and gas industry. He will be remembered as stubborn, headstrong, passionate and
opinionated as well as a loving father, cherished friend, funny uncle, proud grandpa and a loyal husband.
Orest will be lovingly remembered by his wife Doreen, three daughters and son: Tanya (Jeff), Natasha, Tara (Greg), and Jonathan (Rebekah), as well as nine grandchildren - Matthew, Skylar, Logan, Brooke, River, Summer, Rain, Ocean and Paige. He will also be remembered by his sister Savelia. Orest was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Elsie (Lydia) and brother Ronald.
When Orest started school, he could not speak English, only Ukrainian but quickly learned the English language. From a young age he loved being in the outdoors and often as a teenager
he would be gone all day hunting and trapping, returning at dusk. From very young hockey was always a favourite sport. He enjoyed playing on local hockey teams. He attended the Nipiwin school but graduated from Carpenter High School in Meadow Lake Saskatchewan.
The family moved to Saskatoon where he continued his education and received his Teachers Certificate. He was hired to teach in Spirit River, Alberta in 1961. Two years later he took a teaching position in Olds, Alberta. This is where Orest met Doreen Newsham, his future wife. He knew he needed a partner to share in his enthusiasm for adventure and met his match in Doreen.
In 1966, he attended University Calgary and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. During that summer he travelled through Europe. On his return he took a teaching position in Bowden. In 1968, after Doreen's trip to Europe they made plans to marry. They were married August 22, 1969 and settled in Bowden. Before starting a family, they spent a summer traveling in Australia. Orest was always interested in politics and community service and served on town council as deputy mayor.
In 1973, the family travelled north to visit a friend and to see the Yukon. While on the trip, they also stopped to see Atlin, B.C. They enjoyed the excitement of the gold mining industry and decided to purchase a gold lease on Spruce Creek, east of Atlin, B.C. later that year.
They still had a thirst for adventure and in 1977, they took the opportunity for Orest to teach in Haines Junction, Yukon. This was closer to the gold lease and was right in Kluane National Park. This provided many opportunities for many outdoor pursuits that they enjoyed such as hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Orest and Doreen fell in love
with the north and quickly became a part of the small community. Orest also became the town's mayor.
In 1979, they decided to try ranching and moved near Sundre, Alberta. The ranching did not work out, so Orest did a variety of jobs, including spending the winter working at an underground gold mine, near Atlin. He then took a landman position with Antelope Land Services. In 1982, he took an instructor position at the Olds College and set up the Land Agent Program. Orest helped the college expand the program in many ways. In 1992, he traveled to Russia and the Ukraine for two months - as he was fluent in Ukrainian - to explore oil and gas partnership opportunities on behalf of the college. In total, he taught at Olds College for 15 years. The position at the college worked out well for Orest - he would get the summer months off to spend in Atlin, B.C. at the gold lease. It was rustic living, with no running water, heat or electricity.
Orest was a busy Dad, watching his children participate in many activities, such as ringette, hockey, baseball, band concerts and piano performances. He was always there cheering them on and full of tips for the next game.
After working at the college, Orest went into consulting for the Beaver Indigenous Band at Prophet River, B.C. as an oil and gas coordinator for five years. Orest enjoyed what the area had to offer, with many opportunities to hunt, fish and roam the bush. On two different occasions he also went gold prospecting in Columbia, South America. Before retiring, he did contract truthing in the Grande Prairie area, for different oil and gas companies.
Orest lived a life that was big and full. He loved his wife and us kids unconditionally. He always encouraged his children to do their best be fearless and work hard. He was an avid outdoorsman, spending hours in the wilderness prospecting for gold, fishing, hunting, off-roading and snowmobiling. The northern experiences he lived with his family, are too many to
tell. In total, he spent 42 summers gold mining in the Yukon and B.C.
Orest loved to talk and debate. Many will remember long conversations about mining, politics,
and the oil and gas industry. He will be remembered as stubborn, headstrong, passionate and
opinionated as well as a loving father, cherished friend, funny uncle, proud grandpa and a loyal husband.
Orest will be lovingly remembered by his wife Doreen, three daughters and son: Tanya (Jeff), Natasha, Tara (Greg), and Jonathan (Rebekah), as well as nine grandchildren - Matthew, Skylar, Logan, Brooke, River, Summer, Rain, Ocean and Paige. He will also be remembered by his sister Savelia. Orest was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Elsie (Lydia) and brother Ronald.