KATHRYN JANE CAMERON

August 24, 1951 – September 22, 2024 Kathryn Jane "Janie" was the greatly loved daughter of Commander Norman S. Cameron (RCN) and Docia Lorraine Bennett Cameron, who predeceased her. She is survived by her older brother, Duncan (Yolande Grisé), who always spoke of her arrival at home from the hospital – where she was passed from her mother's arms to his – as the happiest day of his life. Janie brought great joy into daily life. Her presence became the focus for family life forever after. Born in Edmonton, Janie attended New Glenora School, and New Westminster Junior High. When the family moved to North Vancouver, she went to Delbrook High School. As a teen, Janie was a Western Canadian junior figure skating champion. In North Vancouver she skated at the North Shore Winter Club, where Karen Magnusson was a world class presence, a friend, and source of inspiration. A top student, Janie entered UBC at the age of 17 where she studied Political Science, specializing in urban politics. Her Forestry Course essay on " The Consequences of Artificial Defoliation in Vietnam" impressed her Professor, J.V. Thirgood so much, he asked her permission to submit it for publication in a scientific journal. It appeared in The Commonwealth Forestry Review Vol. 51, No. 2 (148) (June 1972), pp. 132-136 which was an unheard-of achievement for an undergraduate. Janie had Kim Campbell as a T. A. in an early courses, and credited the future prime minister with helping her understand how to write essays and reports, a skill that would serve Janie so well in her subsequent career. At UBC, Janie taught power skating to the mens Thunderbird Hockey team. After graduation, she coached figure skating in Powell River, already earning at least twice as much as her older brother, a trend that would continue. After deciding a year living in a trailer was enough, she went to work in real estate in Vancouver. Her career path took her to the design team working on the Granville Island project. Initiated by Liberal Minister Ron Basford, the project became one of the great urban success stories, a must visit in Vancouver, surpassed only by Stanley Park. Incorporating sea access by shuttle boats, ocean side walkways and dining, a major farmers market, handicrafts production and direct sale, a cement factory, and what became the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Granville Island overflowed with happy patrons, and activity. The CIBC bank was putting together a real estate team, and Janie joined it in Toronto. Digital banking was arriving, and senior bankers were anxious to learn what they could about it. Janie went off to gather intelligence at professional conferences on the latest developments in electronic banking. Her reporting skills drew the attention of the New York office, where she thrived. Her more than ten years in New York were a highpoint in her life: patronising charity balls, opera, concerts and theatre. Head-hunted by the Marine Midland Bank, Janie faced leaving New York when Marine shut down its money centre operations, and retreated to Buffalo. HSBC then acquired Marine Midland. Janie left HSBC to join a consulting firm in Toronto where she lived next to Yonge Street above St. Clair. It was not long before she took a very early retirement to enjoy gardening, managing her stock portfolio, and volunteering with the ROM. The next stage of her life took her to Tennessee, where she lived in Farragut near Knoxville, made new friends, and followed her passions: reading, learning, following the stock market, and her garden. Tragically, she was the victim of COVID. Her friends from Halifax to Vancouver mourn her passing, as does her community in Tennessee. An extremely talented woman, with great self-discipline, she lived her life as she saw fit.