Wednesday, November 12, 2025
My earliest memories of Guyla goes back many years to our University days when the Smilski’s lived on Richardson and we would be picking up Reese to head off somewhere. Guyla would always make us feel welcome while making sure Reese had everything he would need! I still hear her voice even after the decades which have passed.
Fast forward a few years and Reese and I had families living in Toronto. Chantal, Emily & I always enjoyed getting together with Guyla and Sam when they visited with Reese and Daria and the kids. We will always remember her stories and her contagious laugh told while sitting around the table sharing a holiday meal. It made it so enjoyable to get together and it felt like family.
Reese asked that I raise a toast to Guyla. I am doing that now with a shot of Rye whiskey to not only honour her Manitoban/Ukrainian roots, but also to celebrate the life and wonderful person she was.
Brent, Chantal & Emily
