Mr. Peter Kushnir

Peter Kushnir passed away on the morning of November 12, 2018, after a brief illness, in Montreal, Quebec. He was 91 years old.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary, and his children: Peter (Hanna), Michael (Annie), Orysia (Bohdan), John (Oksana) and Stephanie (Michael).

Peter was born in Bozhykiv, Ternopil Oblast, Ukraine on June 5, 1927. After his service in the 1st Division of the Ukrainian National Army in the Second World War and a dramatic escape from a POW camp, Peter moved to Windsor, Ontario via England. He lived in Toronto and then moved to Montreal, where he worked for CP Rail in the Time Service Department. In an article published by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, it was said: “His title at the time, Company Clockman, barely hints at the extent of Mr. Kushnir’s responsibility and authority.”

As a former representative for Zenith in Canada and a master watchmaker in his own right, Peter contacted Zenith in the 1950s and requested a new railroad standard timepiece according to his design specifications. This noteworthy pocket watch, of which he was immensely proud, was called the Zenith Extra R.R. 56 and had a total production run of 1000. It was the last of its kind in terms of railway timepieces and Peter would retire as the Canadian Pacific Railway’s last “Time Service Technician” in 1989. In 1984, he was elected a Fellow by the Council of the British Horological Institute.

Peter was an active member of Montreal’s Ukrainian community, particularly with the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM). A relentless raconteur with a booming voice, his stories live on through his grandchildren: Andrew, Mark, Kristina, Alexandra, Zachary, Julia, Maksym, Brianna, and Ivan.

Viewing at Alfred Dallaire Memoria Funeral Home, 3254 Bellechasse, Montreal, on Thusrday November 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Panachyda at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Service at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, on Friday November 16, at 10 a.m. Followed by interment at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ukrainian Youth Association of Quebec.