Phillip Jarrett
1959 – 2022

Born and raised in the parish of Kingston, Jamaica, Phillip, at the age of eight, moved with his family to the heart of Toronto. As the oldest of four, he persevered through many adversities, adjusting to living in a new country while fighting to forge a path for himself as a young man.

Phillip’s determined spirit and drive led him to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo, where he made his name as MVP for the Waterloo Warriors, his basketball team.

Aspiring to a career in education, fate intervened when he was scouted as a model, which morphed into a prolific 40-year career as an actor and performer. He had more than just a beaming, charming smile. Phillip broke through barriers as a young minority, at a time when diversity in the entertainment industry was far more challenging, and fought to establish himself as a respected Black Canadian actor. He was immensely proud to have worked with some of the world’s most renowned agents, directors, actors and producers during his career and landed one of his most iconic roles in the million-dollar box office film, The Day After Tomorrow. His ability to transform and commit to any role he took on was a true testament to the respect he had for his craft as an actor.

Anyone who was touched by Phillip knew his vibrant energy could light up any room the moment he walked in. Sadly, he leaves behind his two daughters, family, and friends.

Brie Jarrett, Phebe Jarrett, Thea Titus

Pat John
1953-2022

Patrick Charles John was affectionately known as PJ, Pat or Jesse, on the set of the CBC TV series The Beachcombers, which ran from 1971 to 1990.

Pat was cast for the pilot and remained a principle character for the 18 years the show aired. 

Born in Shishalt (Sechelt) First Nation, Pat is survived by two brothers, two sisters and his son, Mat John. 

Pat embraced being a young First Nations actor playing a lead role in a popular TV series, which was against the norm for the ’70’s.  

Fresh out of high school, Pat started a job at a local mill on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, where he was spotted for an audition. A natural on camera, he humbly shared the lead of the show with Bruno Gerussi and Robert Clothier.

Being a part of the longest-running Canadian television series, ‘Beach’ cast and crew became family. Pat, rightfully, took his place with a strong presence on and off the set. His boisterous laugh and sense of humour captured many. There was a social committee that fondly highlighted the annual PJ’s chili night, as it grew to be a cast and crew favourite. 

After Beach ended, Pat did not return to acting. He moved on to several other jobs including working on a fishing boat, but more importantly reconnecting with family and relatives back at home in Sechelt. 

Pat was greatly loved and will be sorely missed. 

hay čxʷ q̓ə siʔem̓

Charlene Aleck

Lubomir “Lubo” Mykytiuk
1943 – 2022

I met my soon-to-be BFF, Lubomir Mykytiuk, in the early 1980s. We were both cast in Molière’s brilliant play, Tartuffe, at the Magnus Theatre in freezing Thunder Bay. I was cast as Damis, the bratty spoiled son of Orgon, played by Lubo. As I shook his hand, I said he was too young to play my dad. He replied I was too old to play his son. The barbs were presented, the artistic competition was on and we were attached at the hip for the rest of our lives.

Lubo was a fixture in Canadian theatre and television for over five decades. He worked with a gazillion directors such as Eddy Gilbert, Guy Sprung and Jim Guedo, to name a few. I’m fairly confident most of us in this brilliantly difficult and rewarding profession can say we’ve seen a play in which Lubomir starred over the years. Paper Wheat, which played in every corner of this country, Death of a Salesman at Stratford, Uncle Vanya at the Centaur Stage in Montreal are just a few examples. TV and film work were nonstop for Lubo in the 1990s. He won a Gemini Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role on North of 60.

My BFF was an Everyman in the truest sense of the word. From his early studies in NYC, to taking and tackling all of his acting roles up until his body wouldn’t allow it anymore. He was a sportsman, a golfer, a poet, a jock. He read, he laughed, he cried. He was so unbelievably proud of his Ukrainian heritage. Had he not been 78 years old and ill, Lubo would have been on a plane to Snake Island to help his fellow Ukrainian soldiers. He wasn’t joking.

Lubo also taught for a few years at Sheridan College at the request of our good pal, Mark Melymick. At age 72, Lubomir rode his pedal bike from Toronto to Montreal, just because he could. An Everyman and my BFF.

Lubo wasn’t afraid of dying. Ever. He was always full of spirituality and love and reflection. Over the years, after countless nights of revelry, walking back to his Bloor West Village pad we would tap the head of this amazing little buddha, which was minding its own business in a park, and share a beautiful thought.

I’m so grateful to have shared so many amazing times with my friend.

I won’t forget the last time I saw him as I helped him up a flight of stairs to his apartment. I knew his time with us was coming to an end. But Lubomir still had his twinkle. It was always there. I’m gonna miss you pal. Thanks for letting me ride along at your hip. See you on the other side.

Sweet dreams.

Kim Coates

Jeff Skinner
1955-2022

Jeff Skinner passed away on August 29, 2022. Jeff was an actor, a singer and a teacher. He truly was a triple threat. I first met Jeff purely by coincidence. An actor friend of mine was taking Jeff’s class and encouraged me to come along. I agreed to take the acting class, thinking it might be fun. After one class with Jeff, I was hooked. He had a way of demystifying acting. He could break it down to a set of skills anyone could understand. So many people went through his classes in Winnipeg and came out of them as highly skilled actors.

Jeff was a great character actor and built an impressive résumé of great roles. I was able to be in a scene with him in the docudrama We Were Children. He played the role of a school inspector who helped administer the residential school system. A difficult role to play. He carried it off perfectly and with great respect for those who suffered through that system. I was proud to act with him.

Jeff changed the lives of a lot of people beyond acting. He was deeply involved with several charities and arts groups in Winnipeg.

Tony Hart

Krishna Tailor
1976-2022

It is with deep sadness that we unexpectedly had to say goodbye to Krishna Tailor on September 1, 2022. Krishna dedicated his life to his family, charity work, acting, and filmmaking. We are all struck by how impossible it is to describe him in a way that could truly capture the magnitude of his presence, the depth of his kindness to others, and the love he gave freely and completely to his friends and family.

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in arts in 2000 and in 2007 with a degree in motion picture arts. But his love of storytelling started long before that. He loved to connect with people and make them laugh through his many characters, stories and accents. He was a committed filmmaker who inspired everyone around him to be kinder, braver and more open. He cared for every project he worked on as if it was his own, giving his all and supporting the film community any way he could. Whether that was volunteering his time, his props or his cooking skills in front of the camera or behind it, Krishna was always there.

Krishna also used his acting and leadership talents in service of the Canadian Armed Forces. Through the “Civilians in the battle space” program, he helped prepare thousands of soldiers for deployment.

Krishna was also a dedicated supporter of people with disabilities. His career outside of filmmaking was centred around working with the Special Olympics, chrysalis and many other charities.

The legacy he leaves behind is one of selfless love, charity and superhuman kindness.

Sleep well our dear friend.

Jennifer Boudreau