PAULINE Joly de Lotbinière

Pauline was born in Ottawa on April 3, 1959, to Francine and Edmond Joly de Lotbinière. She studied at the International School of Geneva and completed her undergraduate degree in 1983 at the University of Toronto, where she also competed as a varsity track and field athlete. Pauline followed her heart West to the mountains where she met her husband, Ken Bassett. During the winters, she travelled East to complete a master's in Anthropology at the University of Montreal. Pauline's anthropological studies at the University of British Columbia brought her and Ken to Vancouver, where they welcomed two children, Madeleine and Francine de Lotbinière-Bassett. In 2000, she co-authored the minority report for the Delta Treaty Advisory Task Force. At age 55, Pauline returned to school to train as a Library Technician and worked throughout the lower mainland. Following her diagnosis in 2021, she became a dedicated fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Canada. Pauline valued intellectual challenges and new perspectives, illustrated by 30 years with her beloved book club. She was a born athlete; a runner, skier, swimmer, biker, and mountaineer, with a profound connection to the mountains that she shared with friends and family. She was a devoted daughter, mother, sister to Alain, Michel and Christine Joly de Lotbinière, and auntie to Sophie-Alexa Joly de Lotbinière, Natalie and Alexandre Thabet, Verja and David Miller, and Sandra, Jennifer and Christina Bassett. Pauline passed away at home with her family on December 2, 2024. We will miss her adventurous spirit, inquisitive mind and loving nature. Thank you to everyone who supported Pauline. In lieu of flowers, Pauline requested donations in her name to the Spearhead Huts Society Water Well Project (give-can.keela.co/complete-the-water-well).