Obituary: Gary Hyland, one of 100 Most Influential Arts & Science Alumni

Moose Jaw suffers great loss with death of Gary Hyland

Published on April 6, 2011, Times-Herald Staff
One of Moose Jaw's most influential people in the cultural life of the city died Tuesday at the age of 70.
A poet and publisher, Gary Hyland was instrumental in starting the Festival of Words in 1996 as well as building the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre.

Hyland suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) and was diagnosed in January 2007. Hyland was extremely well known in the Moose Jaw community. The Gary Hyland Endowment Fund, which provides grant money for would-be Saskatchewan authors and assistance for those with ALS, was set up in his name.

Hyland taught English at Riverview Collegiate from 1964 to 1994 and the school's library was dedicated to him. His book Love of Mirrors: Poems New and Selected won two categories in the Saskatchewan Book Awards in 2008 and in 2007, he received a lifetime achievement at the 15th anniversary gala of the awards.
Hyland won many prizes during his lifetime, including being named lifetime Poet Laureate with Robert Currie in 1991 and he was short-listed for the National Magazine Gold Medal Poetry Award in 1993. He was a member of the Order of Canada and received many awards including an honorary doctorate of literature degree from the University of Regina.

Hyland was Moose Jaw's citizen of the year twice — in 1998 and 2006 — and was also named as one of the 100 most influential graduates of the University of Saskatchewan in the last 100 years. He was a founding member of the Moose Jaw Community Hockey School, Moose Jaw Kinsmen Rink Action Committee, the Moose Jaw Arts in Motion and Coteau Books. Hyland also took the initiative to help have Moose Jaw declared a cultural capital city in Canada in 2007. He published two chapbooks and five full-length books of poetry and co-edited anthologies.

"He is just an amazing ball of energy," Currie once told the Times-Herald. "I do not think we would have the cultural centre with the Mae Wilson theatre if it wasn't for Gary or have been declared cultural capital of Canada if it wasn't for Gary or had so many nice events in Moose Jaw.
"The Festival of Words has been amazing for a small city like Moose Jaw."

Hyland is survived by his wife Sharon Nichvalodoff, sons Mark (Jennie), Michael (Terri-Lynn) and Miles (Tanya), five grandchildren, a brother and many extended family members and friends.
A funeral mass will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Church of Our Lady, 566 Vaughan St. W. (a prayer service will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at the church). In lieu of donations, the family has requested donations to the Sask. Festival of Words, 217 Main St. N., Moose Jaw, S6H 0W1 or the Gary Hyland Endowment Fund, c/o the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, #2 - 2700 Montague St., Regina, Sask., S4S 0J9.