THE HONOURABLE JUDGE HAROLD FFOLLIOTT GYLES

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THE HONOURABLE JUDGE HAROLD FFOLLIOTT GYLES Peacefully in his sleep, with his loving wife of 58 years by his side, Harold passed away on January 27, 2010, at the age of 82. Left to remember a life well lived are his wife Elizabeth (Betty); sister Shirley Paul; son Bill Gyles (Darlene); daughter Lauren Gyles, son Grant Gyles (Karen), son Donald Gyles (Meg), 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, as well as many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Harold was predeceased by his daughter Shelly Gyles, his son Rick Gyles and sister Nora Henderson (Brad). Harold was born September 11, 1927 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Upon graduating from Kelvin High School, he entered the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba in 1947 where he was elected president of the Law School in 1950. After he was called to the bar he practiced law with his father at the firm Gyles and Gyles until 1963 when he was appointed Queens Counsel and became a part-time Provincial Court Judge of the Juvenile Court. After being appointed a full-time Provincial Court Judge in 1966, Harold became the first Chief (Magistrate) Judge Provincial Court of Manitoba in 1968, a position he held for the next 20 years. During this time he initiated many new programs including the Victim/Witness Assistance Program and the Manitoba Court Communicator Program. This was the first formally structured Aboriginal Court Worker Program in Canada. Harold also served as a Deputy Judge in the Northwest Territories from 1976 to 1978. He later served as a Supernumerary Judge for the Provincial Court of Manitoba from 1988 until his full retirement in 1998. During his long and distinguished career Harold contributed to other areas of the law. He was a former Chairman of Converse, an organization providing public education in the field of corrections. He was co-founder and President of the Canadian Associations of Provincial Court Judges. He also acted as a lecture/educator for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Winnipeg Police Services and the Manitoba Law Society. A self taught craftsman, Harold acquired the skills of a carpenter, plumber and electrician. All of these were required when he and Betty bought their summer cottage on Lake of the Woods in 1961. Today it is hard to see the shell of the old Ken-O-Kee fishing lodge in the fully winterized home that they retired to in 1998. 48 years of weekends, however, were not just for working. Lifelong family friendships with the Pugh's, Jones' and Hardies were forged there. Whether it was a game of horseshoes at midnight requiring the aid of car headlights, a May 24th bonfire with a request to turn down the music - from across the lake, or just pre-dinner cocktails on the front porch, the cottage was a welcome refuge always, to be enjoyed by friends and family. At Lake of the Woods, Harold was able to enjoy his great passion for fishing. Work and travel gave him the opportunity to fish in some of the worlds greatest spots, from the coast of Panama to Great Slave Lake. As much as Harold loved to fish, hunting was his one true obsession. Having birthdays, wedding anniversaries or any other social occasion from September to November was frowned upon. From the time he was a young teen shooting prairie chicken with his Uncle Walter in the morning before school to this past fall's goose hunt, Harold's prowess as a crack shot always kept the freezer full. A lifetime of friendships and memories were built with the people who opened their homes to him. A Manitoba sunrise, in the half light, over a marsh or grain field was as good as it got. Harold loved sports, from playing basketball in high school, golf with his dad after work, to curling at the Granite Curling Club, where he was President. As a member and past president of the Gyro Club for over 50 years, he embodied the club's spirit of friendship. Harold was always a willing and helpful friend to all he knew. A gifted orator and a razor wit, Harold loved to laugh and loved to make people laugh. He brightened any room he entered and the world is a little dimmer now he's gone. A celebration of Harold's life will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the Norwood Hotel, 112 Marion St.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 01, 2010