Tribute Wall
In Memory of
John Slykhuis
1949 - 2016
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The family of John Slykhuis uploaded a photo
Thursday, July 6, 2017
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The family of John Slykhuis uploaded a photo
Thursday, July 6, 2017
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Trish Slykhuis Bootsma lit a candle
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
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Love you and miss you big brother!
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Andrew Sharko posted a condolence
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Our condolences for your loss. May the Lord's grace give you strength and peace.
Andrew and Heather Sharko
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Leith Slykhuis lit a candle
Saturday, July 16, 2016
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Rob Grossi posted a condolence
Thursday, July 14, 2016
John Slykhuis was the best! I can hear him denying that fact as I speak because he was humble and honest as well. His writing was sometimes critical but always professional and he was always prepared to debate and hear out your position. My political career was better having him always prepared to comment and keep anyone in the public eye on alert.
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Catherine Cook posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
On behalf of the Georgina Food Pantry I would like to send our deepest sympathies. John volunteered with the Food Pantry for a number of years. He will be remembered fondly for the way he lit up the Food Pantry with a cheery and inviting 'hello' to everyone who walked through the door.
Wishing you well,
Catherine Cook
Executiive Director
Georgina Food Pantry
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Paul & Kelly English posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Dear Erynn and Damien, so sorry for the loss of your Dad. With thoughts and prayers. Sincerely Paul and Kelly
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Carrie McCullough lit a candle
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
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Everyday since last Thursday I have thought of John and remembered something new. He had a profound impact on my life professionally and personally and I had and always will have the utmost respect for this kind soul. John's passing is a loss to us all. Have a safe journey my friend, until we meet again. My deepest condolences to Eryn and Damien and the rest of the Slykhuis family.
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Catharine Donahue lit a candle
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
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Lindsay croucher lit a candle
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
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Roderick Urquhart posted a condolence
Monday, July 11, 2016
My good buddy. I know you are in heaven now, looking down at all of us, and probably frowning at something being reported in the newspapers -- wanting more than ever to comment. You were a man of few words, but you held a mighty pen -- speaking of such truth that many could not either accept or comprehend. I worked as an adversary to you for many years, but my fondest memories, are working with you in your final career days as Editor of The Georgina Advocate. In your days at The Advocate, you became a local legend. But few remember those biting, and sometimes exciting, exhilarating columns you wrote in the Topic Newsmagazine -- a paper way ahead of its time. You won many awards and touched the lives of many of your career. Your family, now grieving your loss, should remember the great contribution you gave to journalism and the communities you served in -- a career to be most proud of. Your loss is tragic and I'm mourning. I was most blessed to know you and meet with you each week since you retired for a beer and to talk about 'the future of newspapers.' Rest in peace and my deepest sympathies to your family.
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Mark Skelton posted a condolence
Monday, July 11, 2016
A wonderful man dedicated to his craft, community, family and friends. He made people around him stronger and left them with a true feeling of what it means to be compassionate by being persistent in their beliefs of what is right and wrong. We are all better for what he gave us.
A privilege to have known and worked with you John.
Mark Skelton
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Naomi Davison lit a candle
Sunday, July 10, 2016
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Joe Pfeiffer and Susan Gray posted a condolence
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Our condolences will be greatly missed by the community
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Marg Ducasse lit a candle
Saturday, July 9, 2016
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We were saddened to hear of the loss of John. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of his family and dear friends. With much love
Marg and Rene
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Ramona and Jake Visser posted a condolence
Saturday, July 9, 2016
A terrible loss.Our condolences to all of the family.
Jake and Ramona Visser
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Richard Vaughan posted a condolence
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Hi I know him he was a great person to know and he will make people laugh and he will be miss very much
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Richard Vaughan lit a candle
Saturday, July 9, 2016
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I know him he was a great person and he will be miss by very one rest in peace my friend
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Angela Babcock lit a candle
Saturday, July 9, 2016
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Ken and Lorraine Hackenbrook posted a condolence
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Our condolences to your family. We will miss you, a very respected man in the community. John was always up front with his comments and usually right on.
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Shannon Riley posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
Dearest Mary and Family
I am here in Terrace Bay again when I heard of Johns passing.
My condolences to you and your family.
Thinking of you, Peggy and Trish and sending thoughts and prayers from all at The Briars Spa.
Shannon Riley
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Kathy Adams posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
Through my years as a Community Television programmer in Newmarket and then Program Director for Georgina's Channel 10, I was privileged to have had the opportunity to work with John through his years at the Topic, the Independent News, and especially when he joined the Advocate.
I was so excited when he came to town as the Advocate's Managing Editor (I sent him Welcome flowers). I had experienced his style; I knew his dedication to his craft and his community and together, we formed a local media 'partnership', helping each other with projects to benefit the town. He understood our challenges, and he lent a strong and measured voice of wisdom, fairness, and fun to the channel.
I missed his voice after he retired and will always be grateful to have crossed paths with him. This town is better for him having been a part of it.
Deepest condolences to his family and friends.
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Ron & Juanita Gabrel lit a candle
Friday, July 8, 2016
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Pelham Harrod posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
Damien very Sorry for your loss, You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Hope you find comfort with family and friends at this time.
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Phil Craig posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
Pauline and I and the entire Craig family are so saddened to hear of John's passing. He was the best damn reporter and editor this town has seen with articles that went straight to the heart of the matter and a perception that very few could ever match. On behalf of The Georgina Military Museum I want to thank John for his unswerving support and his recognition of the importance of building and maintaining an archive for our local military history. To say he will be deeply missed is to understate the case and to any up-and-coming reporter looking for advice I would simply say, "Look to Slykhuis". RIP good man ... you have left far too soon.
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Michelle Joerges posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
Our sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to you and your entire family Peggy during this tragic time. Sometimes life is so unfair. Sending gentle hugs and all our love. The Joerges Family
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Merces Henriques-Iverson posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
I have fond memories of John. From the house parties to his 40th birthday celebration. Alway a pleasure to converse with. Will be sadly missed....condolences to all the family and his children..... <3
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Maria Crump posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
Reneka and family, we are all so sorry for your loss, may yor brother rest in peace, love from the La Barbera family.
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Opal Hustins posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Peggy, and all your family. He will be missed. May your great memories bring you all comfort.
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Bev Blair posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
Mary, Reneka, Trish, and the family, I am so sorry to here about your loss. Too soon. For some strange reason God has his reasons not sure why. I know you all will be there for each other, take care all and rest in peace John.
Love you all, Bev
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John MacKinnon posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
A Friend a co-worker John Slykhuis
A man that you either love what he had to say or if you disagreed with his version, you knew were you stood and were he stood on any subject and he was ok with you having an opinion
When I started working at the Topic Newsmagazine and the Bradford Witness in the early 80’s there was this BIG man name John sat up-stairs pounding away on the key board, the paper was sent to press and everyone to a man waited to find out the words of wisdom from Slykhuis
I remember one time get a call from well concerned citizen of Bradford he had just receive the Witness in the mail and he had nothing good to say about John’s column that day, first I offered to let him speak with John, no way he was to upset and would tell him what he was really thinking, second I offered to cancel his subscription and give him a full refund,
“Are you nuts was the reply how the hell am I going to know what he is saying next week”
That in a nut shell was John Slykhuis love him or not he kept the readers entertained for years RIP my friend
-30-
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Marney Beck uploaded photo(s)
Friday, July 8, 2016
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John with a cold one in August 2015, listening intently to stories of old friends from Topic days gone by. Taken by Marney Beck, normally not a great photographer, but this is a good photo of John!
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Marney Beck posted a condolence
Friday, July 8, 2016
I worked with John Slykhuis at Topic Newsmagazine in the late 1970s and early 1980s and as a rookie just learning the ropes, John was a patient teacher and positive role model.
He had a gruff exterior, wanting to project the image of a hard-edged newsman, but he had a big, compassionate heart. He often offered biting, sarcastic comments, but he could be counted on to be express the truth of situations even when others were reluctant to do so — especially in his writing.
One "professional" exchange a few years ago involved me as editor of our Richmond Hill paper, and himself offering me up an opinion column after the Paris Charlie Hebdo massacre of journalists. I told him he should offer his opinions to his local paper in Georgina and that the Richmond Hill paper was more for local residents' opinions.
"C'mon Beck," he challenged me. "Where's your balls! You afraid to print what I've got to say!?"
That was John. Never afraid to challenge the status quo or rattle other people's chains.
I count myself lucky to have spent a wonderful lunchtime reunion last August of a few former Topic friends, and I was struck by how little John had changed and how opinionated he still was!
I raise a heartfelt toast to John, who made the world of journalism — and my world — a lot more colourful, honest and interesting.
Former colleague and always friend, Marney Beck
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