Remembering Dennis Robinson

Dennis Paul Robinson died on August 13, 2026, at the age of 77. To generations of students in Hamiota, he was Mr. Robinson, Coach or “Banana.” At home, he was a husband, dad, grandpa and dedicated maker of lists.

Dennis was born in Hamiota, Manitoba, on April 26, 1949, to Paul Innis “P.I.” Robinson and Lena Robinson. He began working early, delivering groceries by motorcycle for his parents’ IGA and learning the butcher’s trade. He also delivered flowers for McConnell’s Florist.

Dennis attended the University of Manitoba from 1968 to 1972, studying Physical Education while working as a butcher at Dominion in Winnipeg. In 1969, he married Pamela Janet Fraser, known to everyone as Pam.

A teaching position opened unexpectedly at Hamiota Collegiate shortly after Dennis graduated. He started in October 1972 and remained for 38 years, retiring in 2010. He often noted that he had never formally applied for a job. Work had a way of finding him.

The nickname “Banana” came from the full yellow tracksuit Dennis wore early in his teaching career. The name stuck, as good school nicknames tend to do.

Dennis taught every sport and coached track and field, cross-country, basketball and many others. He was competitive and demanding, but he also understood that students should be measured against their own abilities. In the 1980s, he used heart-rate monitors to determine whether each student was exercising within a personal target range rather than comparing everyone against the same standard.

He brought healthier choices into the school vending machines. He learned to dance so he could teach dancing as a form of exercise, and one graduating class even performed a line dance at its ceremony.

Dennis also took students beyond the gym. At the Grade 8 camp at Shoal Lake, they learned to camp, build fires, canoe and compete in orienteering. When teams could not find someone to drive them to an event, Dennis earned his bus driver’s licence and drove them himself. Preparation mattered to Dennis, and there was almost always a list.

In 1978, while continuing to teach, Dennis started Robinson Painting. His determination and work ethic carried through every part of his life. He took pride in completing university without student debt, never having a mortgage and never formally applying for a job.

Dennis lived the active life he encouraged in others. He ran the Winnipeg Marathon, competed in triathlons, waterskied and windsurfed. He was the first person to waterski barefoot on Shoal Lake.

“The water’s like glass” was rarely a casual observation. It meant it was time to get outside and onto the lake.

“You’ve got to earn your breakfast” meant starting the day with a run, waterski, kayak or swim before sitting down to eat. On downhill-skiing trips, “first run, last run” meant arriving early enough to lay the first tracks in the powder and staying until the final run of the day.

Dennis also advised never eating lunch at noon. The lines were shorter when everyone else went back to the slopes. It was practical, efficient and gave him more time to ski.

Dennis loved comedy and had a line ready for the frustrations of team life. One favourite came from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: “Morons. I’ve got morons on my team.”

When Dennis retired from Hamiota Collegiate in 2010, he left students and colleagues with two pieces of advice.

“Don’t forget your heritage. Red and white.”

“A man’s work should be his play.”

Dennis was predeceased by his parents, Paul Innis “P.I.” Robinson and Lena Robinson.

He is survived by his wife, Pam; his son Paul and Paul’s husband, Danny Leong; his son Mark and Mark’s wife, Andrea Cyr; his grandchildren, Jack and Noah Robinson; his brother, Clifford Robinson; and his sisters, Vicki Robinson and Sally Robinson.