1931 – 2025

We are heartbroken to announce that Nick Poznikoff passed away at the age of 94 on August 2, 2025 in West Kelowna. He passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family.

Nick lived a long and good life. He worked incredibly hard as an electrician and contractor all his working life, however, made time to golf and spend time with his siblings and their spouses and take family vacations. In his later years, he and Linda traveled extensively across Canada, the US, spent winters in Arizona, and took many cruises with Linda’s sister, Dawna, and brother-in-law, Kees.

Born on a Doukhobor commune in Brilliant, BC on July 20, 1931 to John and Nellie (neé Negreiff) Pozdnikoff, Nick was the eldest of five siblings. The extended family, including great-grandparents and grandparents moved to a farm near Salmo when he was four years old. The family worked together to build houses, a barn, a banya, blacksmith shop, woodshed, and more. From this young age of four, Nick helped the men by bringing water in his little pail to the steam engine and feeding it with wood so the sawmill would run, which was used to cut the lumber to build all the buildings. He pretty much never stopped working from that age onward!

Nick worked all over the province as an electrical contractor on significant projects; he was known as the chief troubleshooter for Betts Electric when he worked for the company from 1955-1971. Nick wired hospitals, sawmills, a gold mine, an iron ore mine in Haida Gwaii, and a coal mine in Sparwood. At the time of his passing, he was the oldest certified Class A electrical contractor in BC.

Nick married Linda in 1968 and their honeymoon was a trip to Mile 138 to start another job. Nick and Linda were married for 57 years, so she didn’t hold that first trip against him!

In 1971, Nick decided to start his own electrical and construction company in Sparwood. His brother, John, who had worked with him on other jobs, joined him in Sparwood for a few years as a partner. After about nine years in Sparwood, Nick, Linda, and their three children moved to Oliver, which became their home for over 40 very happy years. Nick’s entrepreneurial spirit flourished in Oliver. He built the Oliver Family Centre, which Linda and her father managed for many years. He bought various parcels of land, where he built a housing development, mini-storage, and warehouses. His wife and children worked alongside him.

Consistent with his Doukhobor upbringing, he fervently believed in peace and non-violence, and was disturbed by the current state of the world. He spoke often about his ideas for peace in the world and we hope his wishes will be realized.

Nick expressed his love by helping his family whenever called upon. We will miss him tremendously and will remember him always. He loved Linda very much and was proud of his children and grandchildren. He told us in his last days that he will be found sitting on a bench “supervising” the boys as they worked.

Nick was predeceased by his parents, John (1998) and Nellie (1983), his brother, John (2015), his sister-in-law, Ella (2003), his brother-in- law, Murray (2021), and his parents-in-law, Sam and Nora Nadane (both 2016).

Nick is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Linda; his children, Gayle (David Jones) and grandchildren, Sonya and Lydia; Larry (Colleen) and grandchildren, Zoë and Mila; Greg (Nicole) and grandchildren, Sierra, Raine, and Jack.

He is also survived by his brother, Harry, sisters, Polly Osachoff (Paul) and Helen Rennie, sister-in-law, Elaine Poznikoff, sister-in-law, Dawna den Otter (Kees), and many nieces and nephews.

The family thanks Dr. Matthew Smith and the wonderful staff at Brookhaven Care Centre for their excellent care of Nick over the years and in his final months.

There will be a private family service with interment in Grand Forks. To send condolences please visit www.providencefuneralhomes.com.