Janis Svilpis - Celebration of Life

Jānis Ernest Svilpis
July 17, 1950 - December 22, 2025

Loving, encouraging husband; playful, nurturing father; grand godfather; kind, generous friend; penetrating academic; inspirational, ebullient teacher; consistent supporter of social justice. Stubborn.

Jānis was born to well-educated and resourceful WWII Latvian refugees, part of a vibrant Latvian diaspora who shared music, dance, faith, and community. He grew up on a fruit and dairy farm in the Niagara Peninsula and when the farm failed, he moved with his brother, parents, and maternal grandparents to Hamilton, ON. In high school, he formed close friends, several of whom remained in contact with him throughout his life.

Jānis was married three times (Aleksandra Steinbergs, Cathy Hunter—now Liberty Forrest—and Gloria Toole). Each marriage brought their own growth, struggles, and gifts. His youthful inspiration and development were with Aleksandra. His greatest joy was the birth of his son, Eric, with Cathy. His thirty-seven-year relationship with Gloria evolved from the fun of falling in love to a deep sustaining love of understanding, humour, and kindness.

Jānis loved books. In high school he spent his milk money on early pulp science fiction magazines—much to his mother’s disapproval. When he realized he could earn money by reading and talking, he became determined to be an English professor. He graduated with a PhD from the University of Toronto and retired as Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary teaching 17th and 18th-century literature, poetry, and popular literature—including comic books, graphic novels, science fiction, and fantasy. He loved his students, the ideas that flowed in and around him, and the friendship and inspiration of his colleagues. His work was recognized through two U of C Teaching Excellence awards, a rarity.

Jānis loved music, played guitar, and frequently jammed with dear friends. He regularly spent Saturday afternoons listening to discs with Todd, his closest friend. He remained an eclectic, penetrating reader and lively conversationalist who almost always made us laugh.

Jānis was a man of faith who respectfully and generously reached out to the marginalized. He saw God most through literature and music and could lift scripture from the page. Singing St. Peter’s part with other Moravians as they re-enacted The Last Supper was one of his most powerful spiritual moments. He was a well-loved member of Christ Moravian Church for decades and served on the executive board, sang with the church choir, and sat on other church and provincial committees.

Jānis is survived by his wife, Gloria Toole; his son, Eric Svilpis (Lee Bernier); two stepdaughters, Amy Hunter and Sarah Morgan; a brother, Andrejs Svilpis (Yoka Traarbach); numerous goddaughters, and friend-family members. He is predeceased by his parents, Rita (née Deksnis) and Ernests Svilpis.

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