Erika Nicole ELKINGTON

ELKINGTON, Erika Nicole
It is with huge sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved daughter, Erika Nicole Elkington. Born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on September 6, 1985, Erika passed away in Houston, Texas on August 6, 2015, one month shy of her 30th birthday. We loved and cherished Erika, her laugh, her fun, and her ability. We are very proud of her and all that she accomplished.
Erika was beautiful, intelligent and talented. She lived her life by three words: Perseverance, Integrity, and Passion. She took on many challenges and conquered them all. A particular passion of Erika's was learning. She spoke 3 languages fluently and could converse in at least 2 others. She graduated from Strathcona Composite High School in Edmonton and followed this up with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta. She obtained a Certified Human Resources Professional designation "CHRP" and graduated from the Business Families Executive Education Program at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. Erika combined her love for global travel and higher education to receive the degree which she was most proud of, her Cross Continental Master of Business Administration "CCMBA" from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.
Erika was an excellent athlete. Her primary competitive pursuits included swimming and rowing. Erika swam with the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club and rowed with the University of Alberta Rowing Club, as well as other clubs. She loved snow skiing, water skiing, cross-country skiing, surfing, scuba-diving, and triathlon; all of which she loved to do with her friends and family. She also enjoyed Pole Sport Fitness. Her newest sports were salmon/halibut fishing and kite- boarding, both of which she was just getting into. She loved to compete.
Erika was an accomplished businesswoman. Her current company, Progeneration Energy, specializes in Energy Management Systems focusing on solar power. Progeneration brings leading industry solutions to commercial and institutional clients, providing financing and design build services. Progeneration has evolved from a start-up to an operating company in an incredible 18 months, through the hard work and dedication of Erika as a co- founder. Erika also sat on the board of numerous private companies. She was instrumental in changing the corporate governance structure of her family's companies through her knowledge, perseverance, and coaching. Erika started the "Think Different, Build Better" program at JV Driver, which has had a significant impact on this business. Her passion and integrity stand out in all aspects of her professional career.
Erika loved travel and experienced Russia, China, India, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, England, United Arab Emirates (where she even taught briefly at a girl's school in Dubai), Syria, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Mexico, the majority of the Caribbean, as well as all over Canada and the United States. She loved the Turks and Caicos, Whistler, Shawnigan, Scottsdale and Spain, where she had just completed a trip to Run with the Bulls at the San Fermin Festival. Erika loved life!
Erika was a family person. Her love and passion for her family was boundless. She loved dearly her brother, Richard;
sister, Danielle; brother-in-law, Chris; niece, Mackenzie; nephew, Austin; Whitney, whom she loved as a sister; her soul mate and life partner, Anthony; and us, her parents, Bill and Sabrina. She always made time for all of us, and came from wherever she was in the world to be with us for our many family activities and celebrations. God, we all loved her! Her laugh, her challenges of us, and her cuddles with any of us. She always had an encouraging word for all of us. She loved her grandparents, uncles and aunts, Elkington cousins, and Kalnins cousins. She loved family gatherings most of all – dancing, playing, and having fun, and she loved to spend time with her many friends who were all over the world.
Why Erika is no longer with us today is difficult to understand. She was so amazing! She had such high expectations of herself. We will all miss her; however, her spirit will live with us all forever. Her love, her laugh, and her incredible smile are embedded in our beautiful memories of the time she spent with us. She is now with her beloved Grampsie and her family dogs, Keri and Rokki.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to: Crisis Intervention of Houston, Inc. – SOS Program, 3701 Kirby Drive, Suite 540, Houston, TX, 77098 (www.crisishotline.org); The Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation, P.O. Box 35, Whistler, BC, V0N 1B0 (www.thekeltyfoundation.org); or the Crisis Support Centre, a program of The Support Network, 400, 10025-106 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5J 1G4 (www.crisissupportcentre.com). To offer the family a message of love and support, please send to withourlove@jvdriver.com. A private viewing will be held by arrangement for family and close friends at Connelly- McKinley Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 19, 2015.
The family invites you to Celebrate Erika's Life at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19 at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, 10065-100 Street in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Attire: Colour.