VICTOR "VIC" HELEWN

October 10, 2025

Victor “Vic” Helewn of Kincardine, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in his 86th year. Beloved husband of Wilma, dear father of David Guest and Lynette Helewn, and grandfather of Alexander, Dylan, and Victoria. Missed by his sister, Claire Wilkinson of London; and his close friend, Isaiah McCormick. Vic was a graduate of Mount Royal University of Calgary in social work and started his career as a chaplain in corrections. During his time as chaplain at the Bow River Corrections Centre, Calgary, he received many awards for his dedication and service beyond his expected duties. In 1993, he received the Volunteer of the Year Award, and Dedicated Service Award from the Alberta Solicitor General’s Department of Corrections. During this time, he was also involved in street ministry as a volunteer with the Calgary Urban Project Society. Vic was a tractor-trailer driver in Ontario and Alberta with Yanke Transport from 1979 until his retirement. His regular run was Kincardine to Calgary every week. Though Vic enjoyed a fulfilling and successful career as a chaplain and a truck driver, his real passion was music. In 1959, he began playing guitar, sharing the same instructor as Tommy Hunter, before spending most of his life self-learning. Throughout the 1960s Vic played weekend gigs at home and on the road through Town and Country Entertainment Agency, Bill Legere Bookings, and as a solo performer in Toronto. In 1975, he switched agencies, primarily working through Vicki Daniels Bookings and spent seven years on the road as a performer, seeing most of Ontario, playing his guitar in more than 100 locations. One of his most memorable was a week at the Franklin Hotel in Kirkland Lake with Stompin’ Tom Connors and you can read about it in Tom’s biography, titled “Connors Tone,” where he talks about first meeting Vic. They would reconnect on different occasions. Vic loved to play music anywhere he went, the United States, Mexico, Belize, and Ireland. You could find him doing covers of the greats he listened to: Johnny Cash, Ed Sullivan, Walter Brennan, Jimmy Stewart, Stompin’ Tom, and Elvis. He did a Johnny Cash performance on an Alaskan Cruise that won him second place and brought nightly performances throughout the trip with other performers. He won first and second place at a Senior’s Start Competition in Walkerton. A few highlights that Vic was particularly proud of, were playing Sunday nights at Dunsmoor Park in Kincardine, performing as the show-opener at the Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound for a sold-out Johnny Cash Tribute Show that was accompanied by bass player Katrena Johnston (a very special and unforgettable night for Vic), shows at the Grande Old Opry in Chesley with Barry Woodward Productions, and his proudest was a studio-recorded song Vic wrote and sang, called “Land of Belize,” which can be found on YouTube. He was proud of its copyright and to perform with fantastic back-up musicians that he met in Belize. Due to his ongoing health issues, he retired from his part in the Jammers Group as he could no longer play after 50 years of playing country music. Vic is predeceased by his parents, James Isaac and Annie Elizabeth (nee Askey) Helewn. The family plans to have a day of music and fellowship to remember Vic, which will be announced when details are available. As expressions of sympathy, donations to Drop In at the Bridge, Kincardine; or the Centre of Hope Victoria Church, Kincardine, would be appreciated by the family. Donations and condolences may be made on-line at www.daveylinklaterfuneralhome.com.