Obituary of Slawomir Robert Borkowski

April 10, 1962 – Warsaw, Poland

July 2, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta

Slawomir “Slawek” Borkowski of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at the age of 60 years.

Slawek was born in Warsaw, Poland, on April 10, 1962, but he spent most of his life in Canada. Slawek was filled with so much passion and admiration for all the beauty in the world. He wrote beautiful poetry and music in Polish (his native language) and was wonderful at both singing and playing the guitar.

Slawek was a phenomenal chef whose love for the culinary arts was reflected in every meal. He was so passionate about sports that he became a master of all, especially when it came to tennis and disc golf. He seized every opportunity he had to spend time outdoors or in the mountains and rarely went anywhere without taking tons of memorable photographs. We always joked about how long he spent getting all the perfect pictures from all the perfect angles, and we are now so unbelievably grateful that he captured all our favourite memories.

Not only was he a poet, a musician, a chef, a nature enthusiast, a photographer, and an intellectual, he was also a husband, a father, and a friend. Slawek was a true family man; a committed, loving husband and a caring, considerate father. He even had a special bond with the family dog, despite his lack of willingness to admit it. Slawek showed up for the family when we needed him, whether that was building a deck or supporting us through the toughest of hardships. He was very passionate about his work; he would tell us all about it when he and his colleagues worked for hours to finally complete a project. His colleagues, coworkers, and friends have nothing but kind words to say about him, as did he about them.

Slawek gave his heart, his time, and his wisdom to those he cared about. He always made sure that he had time for his family, his work, and his passions. Slawek will be most remembered for his appreciation for the fine things in life, his unmatched sense of humor, his kind heart, and his boundless devotion to his family.

Besides his loving wife Monika, Slawek is survived by his two daughters, Julia and Zuzanna. He is also survived by his brother, Darek, as well as numerous, nieces, nephews, cousins, and both Polish and Canadian friends. Now, he is on the other side with his mother, his father, his grandparents, and his best friend, Fafa.

Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers at the Polish Catholic Church (2111 Uxbridge Dr NW, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Slawek Borkowski, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary