Civil servant.
Born at Winnipeg on 12 August 2009 to Albert Yauk (c1900-c1972) and his wife Olga (1905-1965), he married Rose Marie Bailey (1944-2013) in 1966, with whom he went on to have three children. In 1973 he graduated with a Master’s degree in City Planning from the University of Manitoba, during which time he was a recipient of a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Fellowship.
During his long and accomplished career with the City of Winnipeg, he earned respect for his ideals, which were grounded in fairness and social equality. Even when faced with resistance, his principles were never in question. Prior to retirement, he was the Commissioner of Planning and Community Services at the City of Winnipeg. He was involved with many other organizations throughout his career, including serving as President of the Housing Opportunity Partnership, an adjunct Professor at the Department of City Planning at the University of Manitoba, and President of the Canadian Association of Housing and Renewal Officials in Ottawa. Through these endeavours, he showed a special affinity for inner city revitalization. The many people who knew him appreciated his unique brand of humour, his unwavering commitment to social justice, and the manner in which he put both strangers and friends at ease.
He and the family enjoyed spending time at their bunkhouse on a 40-acre property near Beausejour, surrounded by a classic Manitoba landscape. A skillful songwriter and wordsmith, he would play his guitar for any audience and write a song for any occasion. Many of his songs were about his connection to Winnipeg’s North End and always took listeners though a well woven story. In 2004, he released his own CD, called New Beginnings.
He died at Winnipeg on 19 June 2009 and was buried in the Assumption Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Obituary, Cropo Funeral Home.
Obituary [Rose Marie Yauk], Winnipeg Free Press, 1 April 2013.
Obituary [Leonard Yauk], Sudbury News.
“Thomas Bruce Yauk,” Webb Family Tree, Ancestry.
“Olga Yauk,” Jauk/Yauk Families, Rootsweb.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 2 September 2025
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