Ann Francis Oakes

ANN FRANCIS OAKES Passed away peacefully at home in Ancaster, ON on Saturday, March 6, 2010 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Beloved wife and soulmate of husband John Leonard McLaine and devoted mother to son Daniel Jeremy Dyack, his wife Beth, and grandchildren USMC Lance Corporal Daniel Jr. and Amanda. She is fondly remembered by her sisters Marion Clinton (Bert), Joan Gushie (Paul), Gerri Charron (Ed) and Nancy Feltracco (Albert), Goddaughter Carole Partridge, husband David, nephew Nicholas and many adoring nieces and nephews and the McIlvaine family in Florida. Special thanks for Ann's special care to Dr. Richard S. Hart at St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto: Dr. John Fong, Beaches Clinic; Dr. David Clark, Susan and the team at the Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton; Charles and the doctors and staff at McMaster University Medical Centre; Ann's family doctor Andrea Csordas and family friend Dr. Keith Watson. Ann's trailblazing career began as the first woman in the boardroom of the T. Eaton Company as Manager of the Hamilton store. Ann accepted the job determined to act as a role model for women aspiring to management positions. In the late '70s, Ann moved to Palm Beach, FL where she orchestrated the construction and opening of the Esplanade Shopping Centre on Worth Ave. Family ties brought her back to Toronto and soon after she became a Vice President of Burston Marsteller in Toronto, where she honed her skills in crisis management for corporate clients. As Marketing Manager at the Toronto Eaton Centre, she won awards from the International Council of Shopping Centres for her creative ideas. In Ottawa, she became Assistant General Manager responsible for the grand opening of the Rideau Centre. Her people skills and marketing acumen won her the top Shopping Centre Management Award in North America with then Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Ontario Premier Bill Davis on the podium for the ribbon cutting. Next came a move to New Orleans and more industry awards for marketing of Canal Place, the city's first upscale shopping centre. In the mid-'80s, Ann returned to Toronto to marry John McLaine and became Marketing Director for the C.N.E., where she worked tirelessly on the organization and marketing of the inaugural 'Molson Indy' automobile race. After a stint as Director of Public Relations for Westin Hotels, she undertook the successful market repositioning of the Metropolitan Hotel in Toronto. Next came consulting assignments with CBC Enterprises and the launch of the Glenn Gould Tribute Series followed by consulting for the Royal Conservatory of Music and organization of sponsorship and branding activity with former alumni David Foster and Robert Goulet. Ann was always a tireless fundraiser and excelled in using her corporate connections to obtain support for local and national charities. After many years in management, Ann decided to give back to the community by getting involved in improving mental health delivery for Canadians. Thus, in 2005, Ann enrolled in a four year Masters' level programme at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI). Ann conceived an idea that would both address the need for innovative mental health care delivery and also establish a framework where people could take advantage of a range of art therapy programmes. She worked tirelessly with a board of dedicated volunteers from the business and medical community to realize her dream and in 2009, Therapy Through the Arts (TTA), a federally registered charity, was born with Ann as Founding Director. Today TTA funds several art therapy programmes in schools in the GTA including a residence for dually diagnosed young adults and a world-renowned geriatric centre. All funding goes directly to the realization of therapeutic programmes. In lieu of flowers, Ann has requested donations be made to 'Therapy Through the Arts' (TTA) c/o Fiddlers Green Postal Outlet, P.O. Box 81071, L9G 4X1 Ancaster, ON. Friends and family will be received at the DODSWORTH & BROWN Funeral Home ANCASTER CHAPEL, 378 Wilson Street East, Ancaster, ON (905-648-3852) on Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Cremation to follow. A Memorial Service will be held at ST. JOHN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 272 Wilson Street East (at Halson Street) at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 12, 2010.