Robert Lawrence Winslow

 It is with heavy hearts that we want to let you know of the sudden passing of Robert Lawrence Winslow on September 12, 2026. We are absolutely bereft at the loss of this amazing husband, uncle, cousin, son-in-law, brother-in-law, friend and artist.

Robert is survived by his cherished wife and friend, Janette Froncz Winslow; his mother-in-law, Diane Froncz; sister-in-law Kristina Nairn (Peter); brother-in-law Mark Froncz (Beth Kolisnyk); niece Emily Nairn; and nephews Benjamin Nairn and Jakob Froncz. Robert also had many cousins whom he held dear, including Joyce Syer (Malcolm), Carol Danbrook (Bill), Maureen MacGrogan (John), Joan Ehmann (Ed), Catherine Jenner (Brendan), Lorie Atchison (Ken) and predeceased cousins Alan Atchison (Jane) and Norma Wiens (Herky). Robert was predeceased by his dear friend and father-in-law, Chester Froncz. Robert was devoted to his dogs: Sunny Ways, Fido (predeceased) and Loba (predeceased). 

Robert was born at Peterborough Civic Hospital on November 18, 1952, the only and beloved child of Lawrence and Jean Winslow, both of whom predeceased Robert. He was raised on his family farm just south of Millbrook, with his parents and grandparents. He was an active and studious young man who, upon graduation, was valedictorian of the now-closed Millbrook High School. He went on to study at York University and then at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Robert began acting in high school and then picked it up again a few years later with Magic Circus Theatre at Trent University. While based in Edmonton, Robert had a highly successful professional acting career across Canada, the United States and Europe in theatre, film and television, with credits that included the Blyth Festival and Edmonton’s Theatre Network, Northern Lights, Citadel Theatre, Catalyst, Nexus Theatre and Fringe Festival productions.

In 1990, Robert returned to Millbrook to care for his mother until her death that same year. Robert inherited the family’s 100-acre farm and while he did not want to be a farmer, he did not want to lose the farm. And so an idea to stage a play began to ruminate. Robert’s play The Cavan Blazers premiered in August 1992 in the barnyard of his family farm. The play, which chronicles the Irish Catholic and Protestant conflicts in the township, was a massive sell-out and received universal audience accolades and critical acclaim. Out of that idea—to turn his family farm into a theatre in his hometown—was born 4th Line Theatre, which has operated continuously at his home for the past 34 years.

As the theatre’s Founding Artistic Director, Robert wrote, directed and/or starred in almost all of the plays produced at the theatre over three and a half decades. He wrote 18 original plays for the theatre, directed 25 and acted in 30. Notable plays he wrote or co-wrote include Doctor Barnardo’s Children, Crow Hill: The Telephone Play and Wounded Soldiers.

Robert spent much of the last 34 years gathering the stories of the ordinary people in his community and turning those stories into amazing Canadian theatre. Robert had a deep curiosity about the human condition and spent much time with his community’s elders, delving into their lives. Robert loved his community.

Robert adored working with and developing young talent and shepherded many aspiring actors at both 4th Line and through his more than 20 years of teaching theatre at Trent University. He also fostered local artists through helping to create both City Stage and the Union Theatre, where he devoted his time to fostering a vibrant arts scene in Peterborough.

Robert was a lifelong fan of professional hockey and a devoted Montreal Canadiens fan since 1964. He played hockey for most of his adult life, relishing the exercise and camaraderie.

Robert loved films of all kinds. From art-house pieces to schlocky horror, he enjoyed it. And he relished his yearly tradition of watching The Shining at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Robert’s many awards include being named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha, honoured with the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, inducted into the Peterborough and District Pathway of Fame, receiving the Outstanding Senior Artist Award at the Peterborough Arts Awards, and being inducted into the Junior Achievement Peterborough, Lakeland, Muskoka Business Hall of Fame.

As a young man, Robert was desperate to escape what he saw as the isolation and limitations of the family farm and small-town life in Millbrook. But when he returned home in 1990, he discovered that the place he had once longed to leave was where he was meant to be.

For the next 34 years, Robert gathered the stories of the people who lived around him and gave those stories back to his community as theatre. He celebrated rural Canadian life without romanticizing it, exploring its humour, contradictions, hardships and humanity with an artist’s curiosity and a profound love of place.

And on the family farm where he had grown up, Robert created something extraordinary: a place where people came together. Artists found their voices there. Young actors discovered what they could become. Audiences saw their own histories brought to life. Neighbours became storytellers, and their stories became part of our shared Canadian story.

At the centre of it all was the life of quiet contemplation Robert loved most: Janette, Sunny, his beloved farm and the community he had chosen, and which had chosen him.

As Dorothy discovered at the end of The Wizard of Oz:

“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard.”

For Robert, home turned out to contain everything.

Robert was taken from us far too soon. There will never be anyone quite like him again. He will be missed beyond measure.

A funeral and celebration of Robert’s life will be held at Highland Park Funeral Centre on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., with a reception to follow immediately afterwards.  For livestreaming of the service, please click here.

Donations in Robert’s memory can be made to 4th Line Theatre.