Henry Kreindler

Henry Kreindler was a gifted audio engineer, craftsman, accountant, photographer, mentor, devoted husband and father, and a true friend whose work helped shape the sound of Winnipeg’s music community.

Born in Haifa, Israel, Henry immigrated to Canada with his family in 1960 at the age of ten. By high school, he was already building speaker cabinets in his father’s basement and playing bass guitar in local bands, inspired by the Beatles and the other performers of the British Invasion.

After graduating from St. John’s High School, Henry studied electronics at Red River College. His fascination with sound soon developed into a career, and during the 1980s he owned and operated Banquox Sound, one of Western Canada’s largest audio-rental companies.

Banquox became an important gathering place within Winnipeg’s music scene. Henry and his team supplied audio services for internationally known artists, local musicians, nightclubs, churches, concerts, and festivals. He was respected for his technical knowledge, uncompromising workmanship, and famously sturdy speaker cabinets.

More important than his equipment, however, was the generosity with which Henry shared his knowledge. He gave opportunities to people struggling to find employment, mentored young technicians learning the craft, and treated clients with patience and fairness. Many people working in Winnipeg’s audio industry benefited from his encouragement and practical guidance.

Henry’s life was marked by resilience. He survived a heart attack at 39, an unsuccessful triple-bypass operation, and a devastating house fire. Rather than allowing these hardships to define him, he met each challenge with determination, ingenuity, and very little patience for self-pity.

When changing circumstances brought his first audio career to an end, Henry returned to school and retrained as an accountant. He went on to work with a wide variety of organizations while continuing to pursue music and sound through audio restoration, recording, and community projects.

Henry also helped establish the digital Manitoba Music Museum, preserving the stories and recordings of Manitoba performers. In his carefully designed home studio, he recorded family members, friends, and local musicians. Some of his most treasured musical experiences were the many hours spent working with his daughter, Adi, on her albums and performances.

For many years, Henry served as the sound engineer for Folklorama’s Pavilion of Scotland. Working behind the audio console, he ensured that singers, musicians, dancers, and announcers could be heard clearly by Pavilion audiences. His skill, reliability, and calm presence made him an indispensable member of the production team.

Photography offered Henry another creative outlet. He photographed visiting musicians and entertainers and built a sophisticated darkroom in his home. In later years, he turned his camera toward Winnipeg’s architecture and created distinctive digital artwork from the buildings and streets around him.

Henry shared the happiest years of his life with his wife, Catherine, whom he married in 2013. Their relationship was fittingly rooted in music, beginning when he expressed his affection by sending her the song “Beautiful Lady.” Together they attended concerts, supported local performers, travelled, rebuilt their home after the fire, and created a life filled with companionship.

Henry passed away peacefully at Riverview Health Centre on February 3, 2024, following a long battle with cancer.