John Gornik
We Recognize…
John (Janez) Gornik
(1942-2011)
Shortly after John’s arrival to Winnipeg in 1968, he married his wife Frances in Our Lady of Lourdes Slovenian Church. John was extremely proud of his Slovenian roots, and together he and his wife raised their family as part of the Slovenian community in Winnipeg. For over 40 years he was a pivotal member of the Slovenian Club of Manitoba, now the Canadian Slovenian Cultural Society (CSCS), holding a term as President and multiple terms as Secretary. During these years John played a notable role in helping to bring Slovenian bands to Winnipeg, further promoting Slovenian culture through music. He was champion of music and dance, always supporting endeavors by the Slovenian dance groups and in later years the CSCS’ Radio Show. He was often the first to purchase tickets to dinner and dance events in the community and enjoyed them immensely.
John could always be counted on to lend a helping hand wherever needed within the community. He was trained as a carpenter in Slovenia and shared his skill widely. John worked along side other members to build the grand hall at the Slovenian Picnic Grounds (The Farm) and assisted with Church basement renovations along with countless other community projects. He also made the display cases that are still used today to showcase Slovene artifacts at CSCS’ Slovenian Pavilion at Winnipeg’s annual festival, Folklorama. Additionally, you would often find John behind the barbeque making some of the best barbequed pork at Folklorama or the seasonal picnics at the Farm.
John’s thoughts were never far from Slovenia and his family and friends living there. Proudly in the early 1990’s John was awarded with a special citation from Univerzitetni Klinični Center Ljubljana (University Medical Center Ljubljana) for his part in fundraising efforts for diagnostic medical equipment. John was particularly honoured at having received this award and displayed it for many years in his home.
As with many others in the Slovenian community, John brought with him to Canada the love of making wine. If you asked him, he’d tell you his wine was the best. In 2003, the CSCS hosted its very first wine making competition “Martinovo” and from that day John had official bragging rights after winning “Best Homemade Wine”.
Like many who left their home in Slovenia, maintaining their culture and language was of paramount importance. John’s involvement in the Slovenian Club of Manitoba/CSCS helped to establish so many opportunities to do just that. While his heart was always full of memories of Slovenia, John was very proud of the Slovenian community in Winnipeg and the work done over the years to preserve the culture and traditions so dear to him. Even though he built a life here in Canada, he proudly identified as Slovenian and he’d always wear a Slovenian/Canadian flag pin on his suit lapel.
Submitted by Martina Gornik-Marion
November 2021
