AALTJE (ALICE) CATHARINA VORST-BOUT

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AALTJE (ALICE) CATHARINA VORST-BOUT Born a year after the end of the Second World War, Alice Vorst passed away peacefully on December 4, 2008. She leaves behind a saddened family and a wide circle of friends who are committed to carry her legacy of compassion and warmth. A champion of social justice, empathy and love for life, the ripple effect of her leadership by example is a lasting one. She taught her children the values of community, multilingualism, pluralism, and social justice. A student as well as a teacher, Alice returned to university as an adult, enhancing her French, learning Latin, and -- as testament to her love and respect for her husband -- Hebrew. Although not Jewish, she ensured that her children learnt and understood the meaning of Judaism and its ethical commands. Celebrating her Dutch heritage, Alice loved gardening and, in particular, growing tulips - keeping the rabbits away by spraying them with the garden hose. She taught the Dutch language to many - whether individuals or groups. For many years she cooked up a storm (and great food) at the Dutch Folklorama pavilion and subsequently edited the monthly magazine of the Dutch-Canadian Society of Manitoba. Alice was a natural leader. Upon arriving in Canada, she soon co-ordinated a local chapter of La Leche League. Not content to care for (and, of course, breastfeed) her own three children, Alice ran for years an impromptu free drop-in for a dozen neighbourhood kids - epitomising the term working mother . Once her sons had all reached school age, she worked in various community and social-justice organisations, most notably as the Wolseley MLA's constituency assistant. The Vorst family (Ben, Edward, Tommy, Jesse) requests that those who knew Alice honour her memory by taking an active role in their communities: reach out to neighbours, participate in political action, pressure elected representatives, send letters to newspaper editors, contribute time and money to charities and community groups, and plant flowers in your garden in the spring. And do try to keep the rabbits from eating them. In the spirit of Alice's lifetime commitment, you are invited to donate in her memory to one of the following charities or any other organization of your choice: Dutch Tulip Garden in care of Friends of Assiniboine Park Conservatory, 15 Conservatory Park Drive, Winnipeg MB R3P 2N5. Phone 837-4324. Jewish Child And Family Services, 200-123 Doncaster, Winnipeg MB R3N 2B2. Phone 477-7430. La Leche League Canada, P.O. Box 700, Winchester ON K0C 2K0. Phone 613-774-4900. Art City, 616 Broadway, Winnipeg MB R3C 0W8. Phone 775-9856.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 23, 2008