Lock Johnston

Daniel Lockhart Johnston, always called Lock, age 93, passed away peacefully at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario on September 12, 2025 after a brief illness.

Born in Walkerville, Ontario, to Thomas Lockhart Buchanan and Lillian (née Falkiner) Johnston, he attended Westdale High School in Hamilton.  He enrolled in the newly established Radio and Television Arts programme at Ryerson Polytechnical in 1951, where he met Barbara Anne Wall Quaid.  They graduated together in 1953 and married the following year, on October 29, 1954.

Following graduation, Lock went to work for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in their new television department at the Jarvis Street studios.  In the fall of 1956, he and Anne left Toronto with their 6-month-old firstborn, Michael, and traveled in an MG across Canada to live in Vancouver, where Lock worked for Parry films.  They returned to Ontario, in early 1960 with Mike and newborn Wendy to live in Burlington to care for his parents.  It was here, in 1962, that Daniel was born.  At this time, Lock worked at CHCH TV in Hamilton.  With his parents recovered, they moved to Ottawa in 1964 for Lock to work at Crawley Films before returning to Toronto and a position as a sound editor back at the CBC.  After going freelance in the mid-eighties, he fully retired in 1998, after which he and Anne left Toronto for Hillsdale Ontario.  After the death of his beloved Anne in 2011, Lock remained in Hillsdale until 2022, when he moved to the Waterford Retirement Community in Barrie.

Lock was honoured by several awards for his editing work, including a Gemini award in 1988.

Lock was a member of Northwest Barrie United Church most recently, although a long-time member of Bloor St. United Church in Toronto.  A staunch leftie, he supported the NDP since its founding, and the CCF prior.

Lock will be especially remembered for his active life, camping with the family in trips to the Maritimes and across Canada to Vancouver Island and in retirement in a Roadtrek with Anne from Newfoundland to Yukon as well as to Squamish, to visit Michael and family, and Edmonton to see Wendy and her family respectively.  He was a respected member of the Muldrew Lake community where he and Anne purchased a cottage in 1986, and where he and Daniel worked together to bring “Solandt” running water and solar power, amongst many upgrades.  Adventures abroad included trips to Ireland, France and the United Kingdom.

Lock fulfilled a long-term ambition and learned to fly in his 40s.  He also enjoyed a balloon adventure, a trip to the Caribbean in a tall ship and a sailing trip to Haida Gwai.

Survivors include his children Mike, Vancouver, Wendy (Richard) Edmonton, Daniel (Ann) Barrie.  Also remembered fondly by grandchildren Nathen, Luke and Mikylla (BC); Emily, Heather and Sarah (Barrie); Emma and Amy (BC) as well great-grandchildren, Madyson, Haylee, Connor, Barret and Maverick (BC).

A Memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at Northwest Barrie United Church, 464 Ferndale Drive N. Private interment at Barrie Union Cemetery

Memorial contributions are welcome at the Stephen Lewis Foundation or Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation.

Thanks to Drs. Shah and Turner at RVH, and the nurses of 3E who were uniformly kind, compassionate and so skilled in their work.  Thanks also to Rev. Phil and the CareRing team of Northwest Barrie United Church for their ongoing support of Lock and his family.

Peaceful Transition Simcoe