Engineer, civil servant.
Born at Winnipeg on 15 May 1931, elder of two sons of Wasyl “William” Diakiw (1902-1986) and Pauline Sczepanski (1906-1997), he attended Norquay School, Aberdeen School, and St. Johns High School. In 1953, he received a BSc degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Manitoba. He had worked as a surveyor for the City of Winnipeg during his undergraduate years and, after graduation, joined its engineering staff full time, progressing to the position of Commissioner of Works and Operations (1974). Between 1953 and 1955, he worked temporarily for the Water Resources Branch of the Manitoba government on projects on the Nelson River.
He was appointed Chief Commissioner for the City of Winnipeg in 1978 and, for ten years, was responsible for all employees and the operation of all city departments and services. He retired in November 1988 then was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of The Forks Renewal Corporation to redevelop a former railway yard at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in Winnipeg. After successful completion of the first phase of the project, he left in November 1994 to become Vice-President of Corporate Resources for Lafarge Manitoba.
He served on several local boards, including the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation, Winnipeg Library Foundation, Ukrainian Professional and Business Club of Winnipeg, Friends of the Elmwood Cemetery, Winnipeg Civic Employees Benefits Board, Manitoba Blue Cross, Misericordia Hospital, Holy Family Nursing Home, Winnipeg Hospital Authority, and Winnipeg Community and Long Term Care Authority. He was President of the American Public Works Association (1981) and International Public Works Federation (1990).
In recognition of his public service, he received a Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (1992) and a leadership award from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba (2003).
On 14 July 1956, he married Lesia Meleschuk (1934-2021, sister of curler Orest Meleschuk) at the Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral. They had two sons and a daughter.
He died at Winnipeg on 29 August 2025.
“Engagements,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 June 1956, page 39.
Obituary [William Diakiw], Winnipeg Free Press, 3 April 1986, page 52.
Obituary [Pauline Diakiw], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 1997, page 38.
“Leadership award,” Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists, 24 October 2003.
Obituary [Lesia Oksana Diakiw], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 February 2021.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 13 September 2025.
We thank Bruce Ladan for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 13 September 2025
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
