Robert Firth

Robert (Bob) Lindsay Firth was born on May 21, 1952 in South St. Vital in Winnipeg; son of Murdo "Mert" and Gertrude "Gert" Firth. He was the Firth's second child (sister Sharon) and his family and the Macey family moved in on the same day in 1946. They became a part of a group of 5 tightly knit families on Greendell Avenue. The families raised their children together from the 40's through the 70's. Their children remained friends up to the sudden passing of Bob April 4, 2025. While the original Firth homestead was moved off the property, a new home stands in its place where niece Leanne (Jason) and their children (Melanie and Amy) live alongside homes where Bob spent many hours with childhood friends.

Growing up in St. Vital, Bob enjoyed an idyllic childhood. The neighbourhood had large lots with plenty of trees and bush where the neighbourhood children took advantage of the many hours of outdoor play, hide and seek games, baseball in summer, football in fall and winter on a field of snow, riding bikes, visiting the local Community Club. The children knew the names of most of the people on the street.

Bob attended grade 1 at Woodlawn School and then on to Minnetonka for grades 2 to 6. He attended Junior High at Norberry School before moving to Glenlawn Collegiate and finally Dakota Collegiate for grade 12. In both Junior High and High School, Bobby was a proficient basketball player and evolved into the unique, caring, witty, and passionate human being that shaped his later life. His love of sports, especially the Blue Bombers, was evident in his restaurant with photos of Bob with many former players adorning the walls.

Bob's passion for cooking, as both entrepreneur and restaurateur, as well as his unique sense of humour and wit came naturally from his father Mert who was instrumental in starting the Greendell Park Community Centre in 1947 and served as their first President, you could say Bob came by his sense of community naturally as well. His mother was also instrumental to these passions. Gert and Mert opened their first restaurant Mert's Grill in Dauphin in the 1940's. After relocating to Winnipeg in 1946, they eventually operated a string of restaurants including the YMCA Cottage Cafeteria and Canada Permanent Cafeteria. In 1959, they opened the Lakeshore Restaurant in Falcon Lake. There were two classic restaurants in Falcon Lake, MB; the Lakeshore Restaurant and, for kids growing up, The Falcon Nest (a later night establishment, primarily for a younger clientele on weekends).

Bobby obviously got his start and passion for cooking at a young age in these venues, especially every summer at Falcon Lake. While "Auntie Gert" was a fixture organizing the service side; there is a whole generation of teenagers that owe their evolution into adults through working in the classic Falcon Lake venues as sous chefs and servers. Booby both lived this and as time passed on, evolved in playing an instrumental role carrying on his parents' passion. During the early days at the Falcon's Nest, for a select few, you were always a little worried about your takeout order when Bob was cooking as your order may have a bite from the burger and only two french fries!

Post 1980, Bobby ran numerous businesses in both Falcon Lake and eventually Kenora, where he continued his life-long passion as an entrepreneur and in the food industry. Whether it was in Falcon Lake or Kenora, Bobby's businesses had a common theme:

A passion for giving people a vocation in life, to expand, to fulfill, to contribute and to give back to others.

The ability to connect with his customers, who were a large focus of his life, they came for the experience, the food, and the friendship.

A focus on giving back to the Community in so many ways.

Wherever he had a business Bob made sure he gave back and played a critical role in building community spirit.

Bob was certainly the product of loving, intelligent, and productive people but he became so much more. Bob was one-of-a kind with a heart of gold and an infectious laugh. He made you feel good when you were down, he embraced everyone, he made you laugh when you were sad, and you only cried with laughter when he was around.

Bob cared, he made others care and reminded many of us of the importance of human connection and not just doing but in giving back.

He will be missed and remembered with love and gratefulness by the many people he called friends and family, and to anyone who happened to frequent his many restaurants over the years.

Forever in our hearts,

Christopher Macey and Diane Kastes (nee Macey) with help from Leanne Smith