It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Morris Kibzey who passed away peacefully on March 14, 2026 with his family by his side.
Born October 24, 1935, in Fort William, Ontario, Morris was the first born of three sons to Anastasia (Nellie) and Peter Kibzey who immigrated to Canada from the Ukraine. He grew up to be a proud East-End, Ukrainian-Canadian. In his younger days, Morris was an avid hockey & football player, playing junior hockey & junior football in Fort William. As the years went by, Dad or Papa, would watch many of his sons’ and grandkids hockey games with pride. He loved spending time out at the family camp on Mackenzie Beach, driving in his convertible(while flying the Ukrainian flag), taking off for Ottawa to visit his daughter Leslie without telling anyone and would never turn down a glass of red wine and a good pasta dinner. Morris was a dedicated Catholic who expressed his faith through service and fellowship. His involvement in church activities, especially in making perogies and cabbage rolls, was a reflection of his love for his Ukrainian culture and community. His commitment to preserving his Ukrainian heritage was evident in his support for Ukrainian dancing, proudly attending every concert to watch his children & grandchildren perform both in Thunder Bay and in Ottawa.
Morris’s journey was a testament to his determination and resilience. Despite leaving school early, he returned to night school to earn his high school diploma, a step that paved the way to becoming an electrician. His commitment to life-long learning led him to become one of the first in Thunder Bay to earn the Certified Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation in 1980.
Morris’s career was marked by his passion for occupational health and safety. After obtaining his electrician license, he worked for Johnson Electric and Great West Timber. Seeking a more stable schedule for his growing family, he joined the Ontario Government in 1970, where he served as an Occupational Health & Safety Officer and Mediator Advisor until 1996. Morris’s entrepreneurial spirit then led him to start Certified Safety Consulting Inc., through which he developed safety programs, policies & procedures for numerous organizations. His expertise was also shared as an instructor at Confederation College.
Even after closing his consulting business in 2004, Morris continued to contribute his expertise through full time contract work until he turned eighty. Yes, eighty (80 years)! His notable projects included managing the safety program for the construction of the Meno Ya Win Health Care Centre in Sioux Lookout, construction of two Ethanol plants in Wisconsin, as well as major shutdowns at the mines in Sudbury and Red Lake.
Family was the cornerstone of Morris’s life. He is survived by his loving daughter Leslie and her husband Ken Kirkby, their children Christina and Nicholas; his son Peter, his wife Linda, and their daughters Ashley and Stephanie; his grandchildren Alan and Chelsea from his late son Paul; his brother William, his wife Heather, and their children Mark, Luke, and Jon; his brother Jerry, his wife Patti, and their children Dawn and Andrea; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Morris was predeceased by his parents Anastasia and Peter Kibzey, his son Paul Kibzey and his grandson, Brian Blekkenhorst.
The family of Morris Kibzey would like to thank all the numerous doctors, nurses and health care professionals. We have profound gratitude for the outstanding treatment during his stay at the TBRHSC and the TCU. Special thank you to Rita from 2C, Stacey, Shidjo, Sarah, Rose, Daniel, Mackenzie and the rest of the team at the Transitional Care Unit. Your kind hearts and loving care you have all shared with our Dad will not be forgotten. Thank you for looking after him as if he was one of your family members. Thank you to Dr O’Brien and Dr. Skunta for all the time and compassion you gave our father and ensuring he was always comfortable and well taken care of.
Morris Kibzey’s memory will be forever
cherished by those who knew him,
and his impact will continue to be felt by many.
He will be deeply missed.
Interment will take place at a later date.
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com
