(Keith) Guy Whitfield passed away on April 9, 2026. He was 76. Born in Boissevain, Manitoba, he was the oldest son of Hazel Marguerite (Davis) and Keith Fredrick Whitfield.

Guy grew up on the Manitoba prairie, riding back and forth to school on horseback with his uncle, who was the “firestarter”, responsible for starting the woodstove fire in the one-room schoolhouse before class began. He went on to Boissevan School to finish high school.

At the age of 18, Guy famously went into the Royal Bank in downtown Boissevain and asked the bank manager if he would hire him if he could get a suit. He promptly went to the local men’s wear store, bought that suit on a credit plan, and started a career with the bank that spanned decades. His career would take him from Churchill to Thunder Bay to Montreal to San Francisco and back to his beloved Toronto. When he retired from the bank in his mid-fifties, he wasn’t done. He embarked on a second career as a commercial lender to Toronto developers.

Guy was a man of strong conviction, a believer in loyalty and that friendships should last a lifetime. He once said he liked to be in the middle of the action, but not the centre of attention. His quiet strength and commitment to those he loved was remarkable.

Guy might have been a banker by day, but off hours, he lusted for adventure. Whether it was extreme skiing in B.C., climbing Kilimanjaro, or on safari in Africa, he never backed down from a challenge. But his real love was his place in California. Teetoring on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, he could be found with the other “bluffers” at sunset, a glass of chardonnay in hand, as the sun dipped into the ocean, turning the sky brilliant hues of gold. Walking the wide expanse of white sand beach in Encinitas, he once remarked: “Not bad for a boy from Boissevain, Manitoba.” Not bad indeed.

On a fateful day in 2021, he swiped on an online dating app and met Catherine. Although their time together was short in years, it was long in experiences. And love. Their golf matches were full of friendly barbs until she came close to beating him, then the gloves came off. He was a fierce competitor who refused to concede until the last putt dropped.

Guy wasn’t much of a dog lover until he met Frankie D. Hollywood. Their adventures in off-leash squirrel hunting were legendary but never successful.

He was a member of Thornhill Golf and Country Club for almost three decades and was committed to a regular foursome. Like all golfers, he loved and loathed the game in equal measure, announcing several times a season that he was selling his clubs and quitting the game. That sentiment lasted about 24 hours.

And not to be forgotten were his regular downtown “business” lunches where he swore he and his friends solved the world’s problems every week.

He is survived by his spouse, Catherine Clark, his sister Kim (Whitfield) Elliott, her husband Murray Elliott and his brother Michael Whitfield. He will also be lovingly remembered by his nieces, Marina Whitfield-Head, Ashley (Whitfield) Maligranda, and nephews Dallas Elliott and Jody Elliott

That smile that could light up a room will be forever missed. There is an emptiness that will never be filled.

But the memories of Guy will forever be a blessing. And we will all hold our sorrow softly and raise a glass of Chardonnay in his honour. A Celebration of Guy’s Life will be held on May 8, 2026 from 1-4pm, at the Toronto Hunt. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.