KOZAK, Sidney Nicholas
February 17, 1943 June 13, 2020
To our great sadness, our brother Sid passed away in Victoria on June 13, 2020. Sid was one of the founders of and a force in television and film on the West Coast. He knew and worked with many in the industry and helped advance the careers of innumerable actors. When news of Sid’s death spread, tributes poured in. An original, an institution, a legend, people called him, generous, supportive and inspirational. This is not a future one would have predicted for a farm boy from rural Alberta but Sid always knew his life didn’t lie there. His studies at the University of Alberta were transformative, introducing him to theatre and people who became lifelong friends. After, Sid taught school for a few years before leaving for London in the late sixties where he lived a bohemian life and met and worked with some British theatre and film icons. He returned to Canada in the mid-seventies, first to Toronto, then Vancouver where he did production and stage management including major events like the Expo 86 opening ceremonies. In the early eighties he co-founded the talent agency Act 4 but moved on to casting with the CBC and independent productions. In his twenty-odd year casting career, he worked on many significant Canadian and US projects. Sid loved his work, the people, the buzz, and especially the energy and creativity of young actors, and he missed it all sorely when misfortune and failing health forced him to stop. Sid was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Josephine Kozak, and survived by his sisters Livia Jackson (Bill), Elaine Kozak (Marcel Mercier) and Dr. Donna Kozak (Garth Malarchuk), nieces Heather Jackson and Robyn Jackson (Tony Gareau), and many dear friends. A celebration of Sid’s life will be held in the future when people are allowed to gather. Sid loved animals, especially his dogs. For those wishing to remember Sid in some way, please consider a donation in his name to the Humane Society or SPCA. Condolences may be offered at www.sandsvictoria.ca