Fidelis (Phil) Cyriel DeBruyne
April 15, 1954 – April 13, 2026

Fidelis (Phil) Cyriel DeBruyne passed away peacefully at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, on April 13, 2026, following a short illness. He was surrounded by his family. Phil was just two days shy of his 72nd birthday.

Born in Alliston, Ontario, to the late Josie (née Maes) and Cyriel DeBruyne, Phil was the second of five children raised on the family tobacco farm in Clearview Township. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Diane Mary DeBruyne.

Phil is deeply mourned by his wife, Susan Robillard; his siblings, Emma Raedts, Susan (Dean) Petersen, Denise (Ken) Marshall, and Cyriel (Nancy) DeBruyne; his stepchildren, Janna More and Ian (Krysta) McBain; and his grandson, Connor McBain.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to the exceptional medical teams at the Georgian Bay General Hospital Emergency Department (GBGH), specifically Dr. Brian Gaffney, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Mount Sinai Hospital ICU. Phil often expressed his appreciation for the compassion and professionalism shown by every member of the hospitals’ staff.

Phil’s lifelong passion for law enforcement began during a high school career day. A graduate of Georgian College, Phil started as a front-line officer in 1974 at age 20. In 1989, he became a full-time Instructor at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer until 2009.  He retired in 2010 after a one-year secondment at the Centre of Forensic Sciences, Toronto. Phil took a sabbatical to finish his undergraduate degree and then took a second sabbatical to earn a master’s degree in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University.  Phil’s dedication never wavered; for the next 13 years, he taught university and college courses, consulted on police discipline files, and served as a policy/procedure writer. At the time of his passing, Phil remained active with the South Simcoe Police Service as their Contract Policy Writer. He was widely respected for his command of the Police Services Act, case law, and governance.  

Phil was a polite, kind, and generous man who cherished his family and community. His devotion to ethics, honesty and integrity defined him and all his endeavours.  His faith was his foundation and his principles were his guide.

He volunteered his time with various charities and service clubs, including the GBGH Foundation Board, the Tiny Lions Club, and as a member of the Knights of Columbus (3rd and 4th Degrees).

Though he never smoked or drank from age 21, Phil had a legendary weakness for baked goods and could direct anyone to the best bakeries in the Province. He fulfilled a lifelong dream by building his own barn and home in Tiny Township, where he embraced country life, raising beef cattle and even volunteering to milk cows at a local dairy farm.

Phil took great pride in honoring caregivers through the GBGH Foundation’s “Heartfelt Thanks” Program. In lieu of flowers, donations to the GBGH Foundation in Phil’s memory would be a fitting tribute to his tireless pursuit of recognizing others. Contributions to the Elmvale Food Bank or a charity of your choice are also welcomed.

 

Visitation: Friday, May 8, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Lynn-Stone Funeral Home, 15 Yonge St. S., Elmvale.

Funeral Mass: Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 12:00 pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Mission Church, 106 Yonge St. N., Elmvale. A reception will follow, with a private family burial at St. Croix Cemetery in Lafontaine.

 

Note for Attendees: Emergency services personnel are invited to wear their Service Dress for the funeral mass.

 

Father James Williams: “I have come to a frightening conclusion.  I am the decisive element in my place of living and of work.  It is my personal approach that creates the climate.  It is my daily mood that makes the weather.  As a person I possess tremendous power to make another’s life miserable or joyous.  I can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal.  In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a person humanized or dehumanized.”

 

Phil made the conscious choice to make our lives joyous. Rest in peace Phil.

 

Live Stream Link

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7JzALCH-bw

 

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Phil DeBruyne Funeral Service

 

Live May 9, 2026, at 11:30 am