ERICA NADINE BALLENTYNE

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ERICA NADINE BALLENTYNE It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our precious daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend at the age of 39 years. Erica will be lovingly remembered by her parents Sadie and John, sister Natalie, brother John (Barclay), her nephews Sage and Nicholas, Aunt Liz and Uncle Jack, her cousin Tracey, her godparents Loreen and Vernie, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and her amazing set of friends including (but not limited to) Steve and Tara. She was predeceased by her grandparents Angus and Doris McAuley and Mary Kenny. Born in Winnipeg, Erica attended Victory Primary School, Jefferson Junior High and Garden City Collegiate where she excelled both at academics and sports particularly basketball. She went on to obtain her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba and worked for the Province for a short time. She then took that expertise to work for a number of social advocacy groups in Winnipeg where she became known for her straightforwardness and integrity. In her capacity as a staffer at the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg she headed up, and authored, the first Community Plan Assessment of the Federal Investment for Homelessness and Housing ever done in Winnipeg. Her analysis and her report paved the way for structural change and a much greater involvement of the Aboriginal community in a framework which ensured new opportunity for various Aboriginal groups. In addition to this she assisted the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg in qualitative reports related to the inclusion of our Elders and for more appropriate services for sex trade workers. Erica's quiet, but historic, contribution to social justice in our city is indeed her sustaining legacy. Her passions included her family, cooking, taking long drives in her beauty' car with a full pack of ciggies listening to music and we often said she could have got and excelled at a job building gigantic bonfires because that's what she loved to do while camping. We will miss her sense of humour and her ability to make others laugh when they most needed to. We love you Erica, you will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street, Winnipeg, with Fr. Dominic Kerbrat officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations could be made in her name to the Manitoba Heart and Stroke Foundation. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 06, 2008