Mary Jane Brinkos

1943 - 2021

Passed away peacefully at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, on January 29, 2021. Mary Jane was born on December 4, 1943 and adopted by Elsie and Percy Finlay in Toronto. Mary Jane is outlived by her brother, John R Finlay; son, Peter; daughter, Diana and grandsons Tate and Evan. She was preceded in death by her partner Ginny Mason. Mary Jane was a generous volunteer with several organizations. In 1977, she became the President of Parent Finders Inc. Being adopted herself and having adopted her two children, she was very passionate in lessening the stigma around adoption. Since childhood, Mary Jane spent summers at Big Bay Point in Innisfil, Ontario. In 1988 she moved permanently from Toronto to Big Bay Point. Throughout the years, she held different positions on the board of Big Bay Point Golf and Country Club; where she learned to play golf, followed by her daughter Diana and her two sons, Tate and Evan. Mary Jane was fearless, energetic, demanding and very effective at getting what she wanted in the interest of Lake Simcoe and the Environment. She was instrumental in forming strategic alliances such as the coalitions of Rescue Lake Simcoe and Simcoe County Greenbelt, and Lake Simcoe Watch. She was Chair of The Ladies of the Lake and had been an Innisfil District Association director since 2002. Mary Jane was an influential gate keeper of Lake Simcoe and instrumental in the progress to preserve and improve the health of the watershed that derived from her love of the lake and her connection to the lake. The family will hold off until the summer to host a Celebration of Life. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences www.peacefultransition.ca