Metro Belbas

With heavy hearts our family announces the passing of our husband, father & gido, on April 18, 2024 at the age of 74. He was born on August 9, 1949 in St. Boniface hospital in Winnipeg ,MB to Nick & Anna Belbas. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 40 years, Joan, his children Janelle, Michael, Jaylene (Cody) and granddaughter Ashlyn. He was predeceased by his parents Nykola & Anna, his sister's Irene and Marusia. 

Metro attend three years at Bruan school and then consolidation sent him to Rossburn. In 1967 Metro graduated and the following year enrolled at the University of Manitoba studying Ukrainian and Russian languages. In 1970 he took employment for eight years. Over the course of these years, he started off bartending, then slid into hotel management and then masonry construction. The construction job took him away from Winnipeg- his last job in the industry was the seniors high-rise in Dauphin, MB. In the summer of 1978 his dad had taken ill and passed away - leaving Metro to take over the family farm. 

During his time in Dauphin he met Joan Matvieshen and they were married on August 26, 1983. They took up residence on the family farm in the RM of Rossburn. Here they set out to farm and grow various crops but the main passion was raising cattle. Here Metro and Joan built up a small purebred Charolais herd which they were really proud of. Unfortunately a tuberculosis outbreak in the 1990's forced them out of purebreds but beef cattle still roam the farm today.

In 1988 Metro and Joan built a family business self-titled Belbas Greenhouses. The business is still operating today- and expanded to include a market garden. Metro looked forward to the greenhouse season and the everyday chit chat with faithful repeat customers and new friendly faces. 

Metro also enjoyed a good cup of coffee uptown with his fellow friends and neighbours. The winter months you could find him at the hockey rink in his seat at centre ice, cheering on the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.  A faithful hockey fan he would make sure to catch each and every Winnipeg Jets game on tv, along with his other favourites- the Montreal Canadians. And we cannot fail to mention his love for baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays- he was a number one sports fan. We find comfort in thinking he is in heaven enjoying a game of crib or shooting pool with his passed lifelong buddies. 

It is with sincere gratitude that we, the family, thank everyone for their expressions of sympathy. The love and kindness shown to us during this difficult time has given us great comfort and will forever be remembered.

- The family of Metro Belbas