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Alison Acker Obituary
October 8, 1928 - November 17, 2024
Alison was a rebel at 17 and simply got worse. She was expelled from university in 1947 for joining a strike. Fifty-five years later, on Vancouver Island, she spent three weeks in jail for blocking logging trucks in the Clayoquot "war in the woods".
She married and came to Canada from London in 1955, to Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto and in 1988 to Victoria. Meanwhile, she established careers as a journalist, an author of three books of non-fiction, as a professor at Ryerson University and as a Raging Granny. In retirement she staffed the telephone emergency line, helped start the Committee to End Homelessness, worked in Our Place (starting as a "dish pig"), was a board member of the Library, a docent at the museum and handled horses for disabled children to ride. She wrote songs for the Grannies, challenged US battleships from her kayak, was barred from the B.C. Legislature and insisted that humour carried the message in many a protest.
She also helped establish and protect a new village in the Guatemalan jungle for displaced refugees - part of the UN Refugee Plan - and has kept contact with them ever since. Alison had two good, but short marriages and one son, John who died in 2022. She was an avid race-walker up into her nineties, winning over 50 medals. She loved passing young male joggers. And after that, she still led exercise classes at Rose Manor.
No funeral. For information, contact the Victoria Raging Grannies.
Memories and Condolences
for Alison Acker
Sponsored by the Victoria Times Colonist.
23 Entries
Luke Avison
June 17, 2025
She was my brilliant English professor at Ryerson university. What an amazing woman and incredible life force. Godspeed Dr. Acker
Linda Parchment
January 13, 2025
Dear Alison .... I miss you, and have for many years now, since your son John and I broke up ... we were together for a little over two years. I loved him, and you, dearly. You were always wonderful to me, and I've never forgotten. Rest in Peace dear friend. Linda
Robin June Hood
December 16, 2024
I met Alison in the eighties as we worked for peace in Central America, from delegations to the war zones and refugees camps to court cases for refugees we shared a decade of activism and then she became a Raging Granny and used her skills as a journalist to craft many a song, and of course dreamt up the antics of hanging briefs (underwear) on a cloths line in front of the leg. Oh Alison you were such a force and such a friend, so many memories I will treasure and querida compara - "wherever people fight for
freedom" you will be Presente! Abrazos as you are gathered in by your ancestors on the beach of stars.
Dan Anstett
December 5, 2024
I met Allison upon my return from volunteer work in Latin America. We both worked with COSPES in Toronto for many years and became friends. I remember the frequent small group meetings we had in her home. In those years most of us were in our 20's yet Allison fit right in, she was ageless. She had the same boundless energy and commitment we had. I will always remember a long conversation that we had on difficult bus trips we had taken in Latin America during our return bus ride from the huge June 12, 1982 demonstration to end the arms race in New York. We protested with one million people on that day. I last spoke with Allison on the phone upon her return from the Fairy Creek blockade. Even though she had moved recently from her condo to a senior's residence, she remained very active. Let us all try to follow her example!
Amanda Hale
December 4, 2024
Dear Alison, what a marvelously free spirit you had. May you rest in peace after a brilliantly creative life. Bless the Raging Grannies who continue with the brave protests you all shared in and around Victoria. They say that women become more radical with age. But you, Alison, were born a firebrand! In my memory always, an inspiration - Your friend Amanda
Suzanne Hillier
November 30, 2024
I was Alison´s pal and buddy when we were obtaining our teaching certificates at U of T and before her second marriage. She was dynamic and unforgettable and I missed her when she moved to BC. She obviously made every second of her life count since then. She was totally unique and the world has lost one of its truly great souls.
Bob Harlow
November 30, 2024
So The Voice has now been silenced, except in the grateful memories of those lucky enough to have heard it over so many, many years, as strong at the end as ever, judging by the tone of these guest comments. At the farewell luncheon sponsored by her colleagues at Ryerson, I was privileged to offer the parting speech, which was simply a stitching together of reminders of the zingers, the zappers, the apt yet wonderfully funny stingers she had launched during her career with us at pomposity and tyranny in all its forms. The uproarious recognition the list received revealed how deep and long-lasting a place she had found in her colleagues’ memories. She will be missed everywhere she had been, but never forgotten.
November 30, 2024
Al Reford
November 28, 2024
I was in Jail the first night at Wilkinson Road Jail for defying a court order in the summer of 1993. They put us in solitary confinement overnight which was beside an exercise court. Well we all were able to talk to each other and I find out I am there with Alison and a couple of other Raging Grannies and Alison got us singing great protest songs loudly. Well apparently it nearly started a riot in General population because the guards had to come down and ask us politely to stop singing.
Alison and I got to know each other very well as we attended all kinds of protests over the years. And I am glad I got to bump into her a couple of years ago. Thanks Alison for your leadership in social change. You Fran and the other raging grannies really inspired me and so many others..love and Aloha Al
Dan in America
November 26, 2024
Kudos, love and respect times 1000!!!!
Jack Moore
November 25, 2024
I didn´t know Alison but I read her obituary when it was posted on Fark.com. She had a legendary life and my next drink will be in her honor. I won´t be challenging battleships from my kayak anytime soon, but next time I see one, I´ll tell `em Alison sent me!
D. Simpson
November 25, 2024
Didn't know her but after that obit, I wish I had, she sounds like a gem! RIP rebel girl
Mo
November 25, 2024
A life well-lived. Brava.
MichaeL Doll
November 25, 2024
Michael Doll, Alpharetta GA USA. I did not know Alison but after reading the obit I feel that my life was lessened by that fact. Sounds like a very fine human being.
Tracy Price
November 25, 2024
I have never met this incredible woman but aspire to be her . What an amazing woman and a life so well lived .
Isobel Mackenzie
November 25, 2024
I visited with Alison not the long ago and she was still as feisty as ever and wanting to fight "the good fight". For many of us, Alison´s departure creates a void that is difficult to fill, but the memories are so robust she will live on in the minds of many for some time.
Louise Swift
November 24, 2024
Alison Acker was a real leader and role model for activist women in Canada and elsewhere. There would be no Raging Granny movement if not for Alison. She will be missed.
Charlene Simon
November 23, 2024
With great sadness we grieve the death of our much beloved Alison Acker, a true champion of peace, justice and equality throughout her lifetime.
Alison wrote most of our witty and satirical Raging Granny song repertoire and was always keen to get out and make some noise with the Grannies. She truly was adorable, inspirational, feisty, and a very remarkable one of a kind. Our kind.
We will truly, deeply and madly miss her and think of her each time we sing her songs to make the world a better place.
Victoria Raging Grannies
Patty Cushing
November 23, 2024
I didn´t know Alison but she is the kind of woman I would like to be. The woman I hope we will all aspire to be. She is an inspiration to young & old.
Frank MacKay
November 23, 2024
My deepest condolences on this tragic loss. I was an old student of hers at Ryerson University in the '80's. Although we did not agree politically, her deeply held convictions were respected by her colleagues and students alike. She was a pistol and a great lady.
Trudy Norman
November 23, 2024
It was my privilege to know Alison. Fiery,loyal, loving, generous, committed, witty, smarter than stink and take no crap. These are some of the things that come to top of mind when I think of Alison.
We met in 2012 at the Committee to End Homelessness with whom I did my dissertation research. She was a strong supporter of both me and my work. As secretary to the Committee, she took all the minutes and kept the historical records, much of it in her own memories. She tirelessly encouraged the group to get out and take action to draw attention to homelessness and prod governments to make changes to end it.
She wrote the best rally songs for the Raging Grannies. She was a great friend and a loving support to so many and a challenge to those who needed it.
Thank you for everything you did, Alison. The world needs more like you. I miss you already.
sharon hughes
November 23, 2024
What a woman! Bless her memory and all of her good works. Love the Raging Grannies! I remember her from volunteering with VRDA and horse handling. RIP Alison
Wendy Zink
November 23, 2024
My sincere condolences to The Raging Grannies on Alison's death. She was one hell of a woman- her activism served us all well. May her spirit continue on.
David Lowther
November 23, 2024
A true friend and frequent ally, Allison will be missed by many and forgotten by none. Our world is a better place for herhaving lived in it and a poorer one now she has left us.
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