Diane Rosalind HASLEY

1942 - 2023

DIANE ROSALIND HASLEY December 8, 1942 - January 1, 2023 Diane passed away peacefully following a recent diagnosis of untreatable brain cancer. She was the loving wife for 58 years of Michael; the phenomenal mom of Christina and Erin; the best sister ever of Noela Moffit; admired aunt of Dana Moffit; and the cherished sister-in-law of Marilyn Van Norman. Diane was the amazing mother-in-law of Patrick Hong and Yar Laakso; and the adored grandmother of Jenna Hong. She will be dearly missed by many friends and extended family, including Lisa and John Schwenk. A Montrealer at heart for life, Diane attended McGill University, where she completed a BA in Math and French and met Michael. She began her career at Eaton's as a management trainee and staff trainer. When Michael was transferred to Toronto in 1965, Diane began work for Xerox as a trainer and went on to lead Xerox's team of customer representatives across Canada. A lifelong learner and teacher, Diane filled Christina's and Erin's formative years with arts and crafts and other creative endeavours; instilled in them her love and respect of nature; and set a powerful example of both self-reliance and caring for others. During these years, she also taught herself many skills, including carpentry and plumbing, well before do-it-yourself videos on YouTube! She was a talented sewer who made beautiful clothing for herself and others. Annual summer visits with Jenna always included collaborating on intricate Halloween costumes. Diane was an avid athlete who participated in Masters Swimming competitions and several sprint triathlons, having only learned how to swim and ride a bicycle in her adult years. She windsurfed until the age of 70 and skated, cross-country skied, and rowed until the age of 79. Diane was notorious for doubling the agreed-upon length of family walks! She was frequently ahead of the curve. In 1982, Diane completed a Master in Environmental Studies, a new field at the time, at York University. Her research focused on how the introduction of the personal computer would affect home environments. This led her to be an early adopter, and she soon volunteered to teach the teachers and kids at the local elementary school how to use computers. Diane would go on to build a successful consulting business called Participating in the Computer Age (PICA), through which she provided training to multiple Ontario government departments. Once she closed her company, Diane focused on volunteerism, philanthropy, art, travel, and sports. She became one of the first volunteers for Evergreen, a national, not-for-profit environmental organization. Diane took part in countless native tree planting outings with children from across Toronto; lent her impeccable editing skills to early documentation and marketing; and helped organize the initial Wild in the City fundraising galas. In the words of Evergreen founder and former CEO, Geoff Cape, "Diane was tireless, and she energized everyone around her ideas and laughter. She helped define Evergreen with her words and actions." For many years, she also funded the Diane Hasley Environmental Field Activities Award that supported McGill Environment degree students in their research projects in several countries. Closer to home, Diane was instrumental in educating and motivating fellow beach owners annually to protect the dunes of southern Georgian Bay from invasive plant species. Diane was an artist throughout her life. She added to her tremendous paper and print making skills by learning encaustic painting in her sixties. Her paintings, inspired by the skies over Georgian Bay, were featured in two solo exhibits. She donated the proceeds of the latter show to Evergreen. Diane and Michael shared a passion for birds and travel, often combining the two on birding trips that took them to Cuba and the Arctic and many spots in between. Speaking of birds, Diane became an avid Toronto Blue Jays fan in her seventies, and we marvelled at her colour commentary. During her brief illness, several friends kindly baked and brought desserts from recipes Diane had given them over the years. She especially loved Christmas baking, and we tried to do justice this holiday season to her specialties, including the perennial favourite Yule log. Diane's family wishes to express deep appreciation for the outstanding care she received at the Toronto Western Hospital and The Shirley and Philip Granovsky Palliative Care Unit at Baycrest. For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Michael & Diane Hasley Contemporary Art Fund, at the Art Gallery of Ontario, or to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, are appreciated. A private celebration of life will be held at a future date.