Vicky and John Yakabuski were honoured in grand fashion Friday evening at a retirement party for the former MPP that saw multiple standing ovations. Photos by Alex Lambert.

---

Rankin – Retired MPP John Yakabuski was honoured Friday night by family, friends, and local and provincial dignitaries for his 22 years’ service to the constituents of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.

Over 225 people filled the Rankin Culture and Recreation Centre on June 20th, where Mr. Yakabuski was toasted and roasted by several speakers including special guest Tim Hudak who led the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party in Ontario from 2009 – 2014.

Mr. Yakabuski’s longtime friend, Gerald Tracey, publisher of the Eganville Leader, emceed the event and he set the tone for the evening, saying it was designed to create lasting memories for Mr. Yakabuski, his family and guests.

“Yak has been a very effective representative for this riding and has worked tirelessly for all 19 municipalities, our five hospitals, our long-term care homes, school boards, hospices, and numerous other institutions, organizations, our forest industry, and our business community,” he remarked.

“He has represented all constituents, no matter their political affiliation and the presence of several long-time members of the Liberal Party speaks volumes to the esteem in which he is held and the respect he receives across all party lines.

“John has left a remarkable legacy of public service during his 22 years as our provincial member of parliament,” he added to loud applause.

One of 14 children of the late Paul and Doreen (Conway) Yakabuski, he said John had followed in his father’s footsteps in many ways, as he was the MPP for Renfrew South from 1963 to 1987. And like his father, he ran Yakabuski’s Home Hardware in Barry’s Bay until 2001 when he sold the business.

He noted his good friend had serious thoughts of entering the Lutheran ministry for a period of time, but chose not to, and when former MPP Sean Conway announced his decision to not seek re-election in the riding in the 2003 election, John was encouraged to put his name forth for the Tory nomination.

He won the nomination over Doug Leach of Pembroke and then won the first of six subsequent elections until his announcement in November 2024 that he would not be seeking re-election in the 2025 vote.

In offering Grace, Mr. Yakabuski’s brother, Mark, thanked God for blessing everyone who had come together to honour and recognize his brother, “one of your dedicated servants, who has given his heart and soul to his constituents every moment of his long and very distinguished political career.”

Former PC Party Leader Tim Hudak shared his insight from working closely with Mr. Yakabuski for 13 years when they were in office together from 2003 – 2016. He began by recognizing Mr. Yakabuski’s wife, Vicky, noting anyone in politics understands it is not the candidate alone who people choose, it is the couple.

“Vicky, for your strength, your wisdom, your leadership and perseverance, we thank you,” he remarked.

Mr. Hudak shared he and his wife Debbie, who was a top advisor to premiers Mike Harris and Ernie Eves, were sharing stories about Yak and their youngest child asked about the man they kept referring to as Yak.

“Do they call him Yak because he talks a lot?” she asked. “We both looked at each other. ‘Yes, yes he does.’ And, come to think about it, this is the quietest I have ever seen Yak in front of a crowd in the 22 years I have known him.”

Mr. Hudak admitted back in 2003 when he first heard about Mr. Yakabuski he was nervous.

“The party had heard some gossip that Yak might have a few less than desirable issues on his resume, that may have included a little jail time,” Mr. Hudak added.

“We needed to win the seat, the PC Party’s fortunes were sagging, but who was this barbarian they were sending us from Barry’s Bay? I pictured this Yakabuski guy knocking on doors in an orange jumpsuit.”

He said there was heavy pressure on then Premier Ernie Eves to drop this renegade candidate as the PC’s were looking for a third term.

“There was momentum for change and every seat was going to count,” he recalled “With Sean Conway retiring, it was an open seat and a target, even if it had been Liberal for some time.”

He cited a few examples of Yak’s misconduct, adding however, when a police officer was asked about it, he said, “Sure, Yak was a little rough in his youth, but I voted for him for town council and I’m definitely going to vote for him for MPP.”

Meanwhile, Premier Eves learned 3,600 party members signed up for the 2003 nomination and a whopping 2,500 turned out to vote.

“Look, it’s a small town. Everyone knows what this guy is about,” the premier had remarked. “And I served with Paul Yakabuski. If he is one of the Yakabuski kids, he isn’t exactly going to be a choir boy.

“He won there, they had 3,600 voters for the nomination, he’s going to be our guy,” he continued. Mr. Hudak said Mr. Eves made the right call with Yak winning the riding by a grand total of 645 votes over Mr. Conway’s former executive assistant, Derek Nighbor.

“That was the only one of 103 seats that we took from the Liberals that night,” Mr. Hudak remarked.

He added Yak grew that 645 vote margin into 15,000 votes the next time, then 21,000 votes and 71 percent of the vote the next, when he was leader of the party.

Never Forgot Roots

Mr. Hudak said in their time in office together, his friend never forgot the people back home who sent him to Toronto.

“He fought for hospitals and long-term care. He pushed to expand Highway 417 to four lanes. Forestry, resources, affordable energy.

“He even saved the Douglas Santa Claus Parade,” he said to a round of applause.

Mr. Hudak shared several things about Mr. Yakabuski including his competitive nature, his propensity for singing, how he was a trusted advisor, how all staff loved him and how he was respected by caucus and members of other parties. He recalled how, after being in politics for three decades, the single greatest local MPP initiative he ever saw was Mr. Yakabuski recording a CD called “To Your Health” to raise funds for the five Renfrew County hospitals.

“I watched him cross the floor of the Legislature to sell a CD and collect a donation from MPPs. Every MPP, no matter how heated the debate, snapped up a CD from Yak. In 2010, he did it again with ‘Taking Care’ for nine long term care homes in the riding.

“You raised money to keep people healthy, and you made a lot of folks smile and sing along,” he added. “Yak regularly entertained us in caucus with songs and even sang to the NDP. He would capture the issue of the day and put it to song.”

“As minister, Yak got real results: a Forest Sector Strategy, a Flood Strategy, and the Woodlot Association still thanks him for the 50 percent increase in their funding. He protected the future of forestry in Algonquin Park.

“He kept mills open and safeguarded thousands of jobs while protecting the environment,” he added. “He was tireless.”

Mr. Hudak added that Mr. Yakabuski was respected by colleagues, trusted by staff, and sought out for advice by members of every party. Whether it was work, home life, or the chaos of trying to balance both, he offered sound advice and quiet guidance. He said even in retirement, Yak is still showing up to emcee events, is being invited to birthdays and anniversaries just to sing and people love his company.

“At my final BBQ before I retired from politics, Yak sang “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. It was meaningful—for everyone there. And deeply personal to me.

“Because if there’s one thing you can say about Yak…it’s that he did it his way,” he said. “Yak – the Ontario Legislature is a much less colourful, less passionate and less interesting place without you. I don’t think it will ever be quite the same.”

Siblings Proud

Marlene Yakabuski spoke on behalf of the family, saying how extremely proud his brothers and sisters were of him. She shared a poem their sister, Karen had written in honour of their dad, Paul Yakabsuki’s first electoral win in Renfrew South in 1963, which foretold of the commitment he would make to the riding and also looked toward the future.

“It contains the line, ‘Through time, many great men will sit in his seat, and their best to the people give.’ The poem had very a prominent place in our home.

“I suspect that individually we each wondered if maybe we could be the one to follow in Dad’s footsteps,” she continued. “Of course, in 2003, we got the answer.”

She shared how John had called her in an emotionally heavy voice, shortly after his first win in 2003, to tell her the late Alfie O’Malley, a longtime friend of their Dad’s, had given give him a set of Ontario government cuff links before he passed away in 1987 for safe keeping, to hold until the day when one of his children assumed his office.

Mr. O’Malley kept them until the day one of his children assumed his office.

“Hearing of it was a powerful moment for me. I can only imagine just what that moment must have been like for you, John,” she remarked. “But I don’t have trouble imagining why.

“John went on to score among the highest margins of victory across the province in election after election,” she added.

Growing up in a political home, they quickly learned it was a 24-hour, seven day a week job, and her father showed how important it was to represent the public well, no matter their political stripe. Ms. Yakabuski held regulatory affairs roles and was a frequent visitor to Queen’s Park and political events and she got an up close and personal look at her brother in action after his 2003 win.

“From that vantage point, I watched John perform his many legislative roles, as opposition critic, as House Leader, speaking on issues, answering questions as Minister and as Parliamentary Assistant. I saw the full spectrum of his passion and intellect and political skills and camaraderie.”

She concluded by sharing how Mr. Yakabuski, accompanied by Vicky, showed up to assist her at the cottage one morning, having completed the work before she had arose.

“That is the commitment he brings to all that he does.”

Rob Flack

Rob Flack, MPP for Elgin, Middlesex and London and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, called the Valley his second home.

“It’s a great day to celebrate a great career, a great man and a great family.”

He shared how he felt a personal connection to Mr. Yakabuski as his mother-in-law, Julie Leahy, had once worked in the family store in Barry’s Bay and babysat some of the Yakabuski children, and how wife, Denise, had played at Paul Yakabuski’s campaign kick-off in Renfrew, in 1963.

When Mr. Flack launched his campaign in 2022, he asked Mr. Yakabuski and fellow MPP Laurie Scott to attend, adding Yak sang the Lake Dore Waltz. He noted his parents watched the Legislative Assembly channel faithfully and Yak was their favourite “star.”

He told Mr. Yakabuski he is dearly missed in the Legislature.

“We miss your smile, your enthusiasm, your speaking voice, your singing voice,” he said. “Congratulations, John, on a great career.”

Laurie Scott

MPP Laurie Scott, who represents Haliburton – Kawartha Lakes – Brock, was also elected in 2003. She told of how much her late mother loved the guest of honour, noting Yak’s trips to Toronto were often based on where he could find food. He discovered if he left Barry’s Bay, he could stop in Kinmount and get dinner from her mother. She also said Mr. Yakabuski sang at her Mom’s funeral as a tribute to her.

“Queen’s Park has not been the same without you,” she said. “But I know this is not good-bye because you tend to pop-up in spots.”

Lawrie Yakabuski

Brother Lawrie Yakabuski said his contributions to the local community and the province will benefit generations to come. He jokingly noted how, as the Minister of Natural Resources, and through his large election wins, “he had almost made the Liberal voters in Renfrew County an endangered species.”

He recalled how as an 11-year-old, John helped then federal PC Party candidate Del O’Brien campaign in the Bay by reading announcements from the speakers mounted on his uncle’s 1964 Ford.

He also acknowledged Mr. Yakabuski’s family, saying anyone in a political family understands the “tremendous price everyone pays and everyone gives to have their father involved and dedicated to such a way that John was.”

He shared how he had once high-sticked his brother in a hockey game at their house after he had been checked hard into a cement block wall. John went for stitches at the hospital and told the doctor, who happened to later become their brother in-law, that he better not leave because when he got done with Lawrie he’d need a sewing machine.

Sean Conway

Former MPP Sean Conway, a second cousin, described him as “a reluctant academic” when he was in a Grade 7 class with Mr. Conway’s sister, that was being taught by their mother. Mr. Conway noted a politician’s job has become much more difficult since his time in office, citing the recent attack on two politicians at their home in Minnesota, where one died and one was seriously injured.

“That is increasingly happening in the lives public officials lead,” he said. “I think we need to take a long, hard look at how we have let a difference of opinion become polarization that is just completely unhelpful, unreasonable and intolerable.”

He noted the business of government should be about bringing people together, often around difficult, divisive issues.

Mr. Conway said Yak is still showing up at Queen’s Park after his retirement, asking how, despite his resiliency and tenacity, mere hours after his voluntary departure, (Premier) Doug Ford re-instated a $57,000 pay raise for MPPs and the pension plan that Mike Harris cancelled 30 years ago.

MPP Billy Denault

Mr. Yakabuski’s successor, MPP Billy Denault, brought congratulations on behalf of Premier Ford, who thanked him for his more than two decades of exemplary service to the people of Ontario.

“You leave an enduring legacy of steadfast support for the Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke riding during your time as Member of Provincial Parliament,” he said. “The policies and initiatives you championed, the relationships you nurtured, and the impact you had on constituents and the province as a whole, will be remembered long after your departure from the hallowed halls of the legislative assembly.”

On a personal note, Mr. Denault thanked Mr. Yakabuski for the support and mentorship he had provided since his election in March. He noted when Mr. Yakabuski spoke, people listened and the respect he rightly earned was evident everywhere he went.

Final Words

The final word was reserved for Mr. Yakabuski saying he was very humbled and grateful by what had been presented that evening. He noted during his years in office, he was part of many tributes to others and to be on the opposite side of things was “unusual.”

He recalled being prompted to seek the nomination by retired MPP Norm Sterling (Carleton-Mississippi Mills) initially, then minutes later by Gerald Tracey. “So, the pressure was on,” he said.

He credited wife, Vicky, for being part of that initial decision for him to run, adding her support throughout his career has been so important and essential to his longevity.

“I don’t think words can describe what you have meant to my political success,” he said to his wife.

He elaborated on his sister Marlene’s cuff link story, explaining Mr. O’Malley had the cuff links engraved with a message signed “Dad.”

He recounted how Mr. O’Malley had asked his father if he thought any of his sons might follow in his footsteps, adding John would likely be the most suitable if he’s got a “good woman behind him.”

He acknowledged his family, and the special guests in attendance, noting the great margins of victory were not about him but about the ratepayers who supported him. He thanked Mr. Hudak for giving him the opportunities to succeed or fail through the leadership roles he gave him in the PC caucus when their party was in opposition.

“Then Premier Ford gave me the opportunities to sit on the Executive council, and I’ll be ever grateful for that as well.”

He thanked his longtime staffers, both locally and in Toronto, who worked with him and not for him, and also expressed his gratitude to Zig Mintha of Eganville who led all but one of his campaigns.

“They made me look so good, so many times,” he said.

Yak concluded by saying he had picked the right time to call it a career, noting Billy Denault would prove to be a great successor.