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VICTORIA ALEXANDRA MCBAIN
Born: Dec 29, 1934
Date of Passing: Apr 30, 2025
Offer Condolences or Memory Make a donation to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation
VICTORIA ALEXANDRA MCBAIN
We are saddened to announce the passing of Vicki, artist, homemaker, fisherwoman, and matriarch - born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, to Alec and Nellie Surjik as the youngest of three daughters. Much of her youth was spent on the family farm, followed by school years in Yorkton. Tragically, at the age of 17 she lost her mother to rheumatic heart disease. Despite this loss, she became captain of her high school basketball team and completed her RN degree at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Regina.
Vicki met Clyde while he was on a sales trip to Kamsack after a meeting with her father; they were married there on October 5, 1957. After their marriage, she moved to Winnipeg and worked as a nurse at St. Boniface Hospital. She left nursing after the birth of their children - Heather in 1958 and Rob in 1961 - to focus on raising their family.
Once her children were in school, Vicki joined The Forum Art Institute and began her 60-year journey as an artist, creating beautiful watercolor and acrylic paintings of landscapes, wildlife, people and some very abstract and wild works! Her travels to Italy and France with artist friends to paint ‘en plein air’ were a source of inspiration along with the thousands of photos she took. Fortunate are those who have her artwork displayed in their homes. Vicki and Clyde enjoyed travelling together to BC to visit friends and trips to Italy, Russia, South America, New Zealand and France. Together they enjoyed 50 seasons of MTC, countless Blue Bomber games (west side of course) and the Winnipeg Jets versions 1 and 2.
Clyde turned his prairie girl into a lake going woman with the acquisition of the cottage at Lake of the Woods, although she never swam without her lifebelt on, much to the amusement of her children and grandchildren! She and Clyde spent many hours there fishing, first dragging Heather and Rob and then various grandchildren around the lake. If she was catching (and she usually did) you knew you had to let out miles of line and risk Clyde’s wrath when you got snagged! A Master Angler of Northern Pike from their trips to Knee Lake Lodge, she also caught salmon and halibut off the BC coast.
Still, Vicki often said her most cherished role was that of grandmother. With five grandsons and one granddaughter, she presided over Sunday roast beef dinners during the winter and weekends at the cottage throughout the summer. Each grandchild enjoyed an annual birthday outing to the toy store - where they picked their own gifts (and something for their siblings) - and, as they grew older, the shopping grew to include lunch and a movie. Vicki's grandmotherly devotion also included trips to the Aviation Museum, snowy slogs to the circus, delivering forgotten lunches, and watching their activities. All of this she did while making sure Clyde was well-fed, the house kept immaculate, and the laundry always done. The kids all remember her pointing with her middle finger (as she felt pointing with one’s pointer finger was rude!) and calling any amount over a few 27,000!
The loss of her granddaughter Kendra to cancer at the age of 18 was a heartbreaking blow to the entire family. Though Vicki was not religious, she had a deeply spiritual side and firmly believed that Kendra was in a good place - and that they, along with her parents and sisters, would one day be together.
Vicki was predeceased by her parents, her eldest sister Elizabeth (Betty) McPherson, her middle sister Phyllis Lipsett, a brother in infancy, and her beloved granddaughter Kendra. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Clyde; her son Rob McBain (Tammy) and grandson Graham (Leah); her daughter Heather Frame (Grant) and grandsons, Iain (Amber, Hailey, Mya, Eoghan), Donnie (Kolby), Scott (Olivia, Brodie, Bronwyn), and Patrick (Chelsea, with a baby due in June); her son-in-law Don and many members of the McPherson and Lipsett families.
The family would also like to extend their thanks to Heather and the team of health care workers (especially Lincoln) whose efforts allowed Vicki to remain in the home she so loved to the end.
A private family celebration of her life has been held. For those who wish, donations in Vicki’s memory to Kendra’s Walk at CancerCare Manitoba would be gratefully accepted.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 10, 2025
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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My sincere condolences to Victoria's family. I have only just heard of her passing. I was fortunate to meet Vicki at the Forum Art where we painted together on Thursday's for several years. Vicki usually painted on huge canvases and passed along very helpful advice to a novice. And she always wore the most stylish shoes and boots. Memories of devilled eggs at our Christmas lunches. - Posted by: Mae Bayly (Friend) on: Jul 29, 2025
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Very sad news and my condolences. I was fortunate to have been with Forum Art in the eighties when Forum Art was located at the old CPR building when Vicki was there. I remember her and Nick having quite a discussion over her newest painting, He had his thoughts on what should be in the painting and Vicki had hers. It was quite interesting to listen to the 2 of them argue about the direction of her current piece. It turned out to be a beautiful painting of a girl looking out to sea. Of course I bought it as soon as I could and have been enjoying it ever since. It brings back some great memories of Vicki, Nick and my time with Forum Art. - Posted by: Paul (Fellow Artist) on: May 10, 2025
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Vicky and Clyde came to our Twin View Resort some 55 years ago with the entire family including your Sirjik family. We still have the tambourine you gave us for campfire sing-alongs that you were all such a rich part of. Love you all on Vicky’s passing. 🎶Thanks for the memories 🎶 Sonja and family! Bles 💖💖 - Posted by: Sonja Lundstrom (Friend) on: May 10, 2025
