Leonard Wayne Enns

It is with great sadness and fond memories that we announce the passing of Leonard Wayne Enns, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, and uncle, who died in Victoria, BC on October 1, 2025.

Leonard was born on April 2, 1936 in Vanguard, Saskatchewan, about twenty miles from Swift Current. He was the third child of Frank and Katherina Enns. The family lived in Wymark, Saskatchewan, until 1949, when they briefly relocated to Taber, Alberta, before settling on a small acreage near Grunthal, Manitoba, known as Woolwich.

Because the local country school only offered classes up to Grade 8, Len was determined to attend high school four miles away so he walked or hiked along gravel roads and through deep snow. To help pay for his schooling, he worked at a nearby cattle ranch and hoed beets. In the surrounding Mennonite community—aside from the rancher—advanced education was not encouraged, and most children left school at age fourteen. Despite this, Len completed Grade 9 by correspondence and then attended Grades 10 and 11 in Grunthal.

In 1954 the family moved to Steinbach, Manitoba, where he graduated from Grade 12. Unsure of his next steps, he worked in a local garage and later taught school on a teacher’s permit. While he was considering teaching as a career, he learned about a new radio station focused on classical music and agriculture. Although he had no exposure to classical music and had never lived on a farm, he was hired as Farm Director and became one of the first eleven staff members when the station went on air on March 1, 1957. This station would eventually become part of Golden West Broadcasting, which today operates dozens of stations throughout the prairies.

Len had found his niche. Even without previous experience with classical music or opera, he quickly immersed himself in the world of the arts, which became a lifelong passion. In 1962 he married Irene, and they lived in Altona until 1965. Over the following years, they moved to Calgary, Regina, Melfort, and finally, in 1976, back to Swift Current—returning to his roots.

In Swift Current, he truly came into his own. Both he and Irene became deeply involved in the community and received government awards for their contributions, especially in arts and cultural life. Len quickly became a popular on-air personality and was recognized everywhere he went. His brother-in-law Reg affectionately called him “Mr. Swift Current,” as a five-minute errand often turned into a two-hour outing filled with conversations.

The couple lived in a wonderful historic home that, for nearly thirty years, became the heart of countless family events and a welcoming place for many of their son’s friends. After retiring, they moved to Victoria in 2006 to be closer to children and grandchildren. Len was a deeply spiritual man, strongly identifying with his Mennonite heritage, and was active in the Anglican Church of the Advent. While Len greatly appreciated the vibrant arts scene in Victoria, his heart always belonged to the prairies, and he requested that his ashes be laid to rest in the place he loved most.

He will be missed dearly by all who knew him.