SHAUNA HEATHER POOLE

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SHAUNA HEATHER POOLE

January 3, 1967 - February 13, 2025

With heavy hearts and immense sadness we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved Shauna, age 58, on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Health Sciences Centre ICU in Winnipeg.

Shauna will forever be remembered by her identical twin sister, Shannon Hayley Poole who was born a few minutes before her at Grace Hospital, Winnipeg on January 3, 1967.

Also mourning her loss is her oldest and wisest sister, Rae Reid (Ted Monkman) and Big Brother “Beluga” Bill Poole (Judy). Sister-In-Law Lesley Poole. Nieces and Nephews: Holly MacEachern (Michael), Janice Baryliuk (Brian), Gordon Reid (Karen), Logan, Lucas and Dr. Cody Poole and Nina Rennie. Shauna was also the beloved Great Aunt to: Dr.Elizabeth Kliska, Danielle and Reid Baryliuk, William and Josie Kate Reid, Reece (Ali) Mohammed, Jillian and Autumn Poole, Tessa, Tyra and Talissa Poole and Brooke and Blake Fengler and Odin Rennie.

Shauna will be forever missed by her sisters and brother from Hollow Water and their Families, Michelle, Kelly and Derek Bushie and Shavonne Carriere. From Winnipeg families of her sister Loretta Ross and brother Raymond Meade and his father, Norman Meade.

Shauna was predeceased by her parents William and Margaret Poole (nee Smith), infant sister Joni Suzanne Poole and brother Robert “Ted” Poole (Lesley), and his children, Jess and Kristie-Lee Poole and niece Kerry Fengler. Birth Father Leslie Bushie, his wife Burma Bushie, and Birth Mother Thelma Meade.

Shauna lived her younger years in Churchill-Fort Churchill and Rankin Inlet before her dad transferred to CFB Holberg (San Josef) on Vancouver Island. It was here she learned to swim, and swam 5 miles when she was ten years old! She also started to learn the guitar, which sometimes turned into eating cookies, laughing and turning storytelling into an art. The “twins” as the family called them, always had lots of friends, always starting a band, dancing, playing music, watching TV, and playing “pretend store” on those cold winter days.

The family moved to Port Alice, B.C, where their brother Bill lived. Here she learned to skate but was not a big fan as the first thing they taught was how to fall! ‘Mummy’, as the twins called her, enrolled them into curling and this is where they both excelled. They were part of the of the ‘Fearsome Foursome’ and won their way to the Provincials - twice. Shauna graduated from North Island Secondary School in 1985, moved to Victoria attended Camosun College and transferred to the University of Manitoba to complete her Bachelor of Arts Degree. She worked at Southeast Resource Development Council (SERDC) as a student and received lots of mentoring and encouragement to try new things. Always a hockey fan, Shauna became the first woman to be on the Junior A Board of Directors as she joined the Southeast Blades as a Board member and ran operations of the team.

In 1995 Shauna was on interchange from the Assembly of Manitoba Chief to the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (DIAND) as part of the team to shadow a department representative to dismantle the department. After four years, she won a competition for Funding Services Officer. However, The IGS Directorate, where she was shadowing, had other ideas and scooped her up and offered her the Intergovernmental Relations Officer/Negotiator position. She worked on the Social Development file providing advice on Income Assistance policy. She earned a Deputy Minister’s award for the implantation of the National Child Benefits program. She was offered the opportunity to work as a negotiator on the Self Government file and Governance file. This was her greatest achievement and she was honoured to work with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation on their discussions and signing of their Self-Government Agreement with Canada. This was the first agreement signed in the prairies and the only one signed in Manitoba. She received a Deputy Minister’s award for her work.

Shauna became a Funding Services Officer in 2016 where she could continue her work with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to assist with the implementation of their Self-Government Agreement. She loved working and travelling to her communities to work on where they wanted to go, “What is the plan, and how can I assist” was her motto. She received one more Deputy Minister’s award as a member of the Advisory Committee on Gender Equality. She worked tirelessly and over her thirty years visited 63 First Nations.

Shauna loved music - learning to play guitar and drums and sharing her love of her favourite bands and songs on many work road trips and family trips to the US. She loved her trips to New York City - it was like a second home. Here she saw Broadway plays and musicals, and cheered many Yankees games. She could walk forever because there was so much to see, eat, and do. She loved to travel and celebrated New Years Eve in Times Square, Sydney Harbour, Las Vegas, and Edinburgh. She toured New Zealand, Ireland, France and her brother Ted’s favourite second home -Puerto Vallarta. Of course she loved the USA- besides NYC she loved Los Angelas, DragonCon in Atlanta, Texas, Boston, San Francisco and shopping across the border in Fargo-Morhead. The twins generosity included their family in their adventures. She loved trying new foods and learned to cook many of them. Her speciality was her brother Bill’s recipe for ribs, which she often made for potlucks at work. There was always someone trying to scoop the last little bit of meat from the pan. She did not like to sew but at Halloween out came the glue gun and sewing machine. She would turn on her imagination just whip up a costume. Her best were the Ninja Turtle costumes and the Carol Burnett’s Gone With the Wind dress for Shannon - complete with curtain rod.

Shauna was very sociable and enjoyed going out with friends and family to plays and concerts from the Go Go’s to ACDC to George Jones. She had a great wit and made you feel at ease. Going out to dinner with her was always a pleasure. When she told her stories, we laughed so much that people commented that they wanted to join our table because we were having so much fun.

She was just a great person. Christmas was her favourite celebration and her chance to give presents to everyone she dearly cared for. Her gifts were always so thoughtful and personal. Shauna was also generous with her time, going out of her way for so many people. She was a great listener hearing not only the words but what you were really trying to say. She was very intuitive that way and gave very good advice. She inspired people by giving them confidence and encouragement. People trusted her and admired her inner strength. When she walked into a room or a home everyone relaxed. It felt like “All is right with the world, Shauna is here”.

The family would like to thank the staff at the ICU staff at Health Sciences for being beyond compassionate for their incredible care, and support, especially Nurse Carmen and Roxanne.

Memorial Service will be held, Saturday, May 24, 2025 at Bardal Funeral Home & Crematorium 843 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3A 1M6. The Service starts at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow.

Shauna supported the following organizations, Rossbrook House, Canadian Diabetes, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Cancer Care and ALS. Donations are welcome as are flowers and cards and lots of hugs.

Bardal Funeral Home

843 Sherbrook Street, 204-774-7474

Tribute Wall: www.bardal.ca

SHAUNA HEATHER POOLE

Notice of Celebration of Life

Shauna's Memorial Service and reception will be held Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Bardal Funeral Home and Crematorium, 843 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3A 1M6, Phone 774-7474.

Shauna supported the following organizations: Rossbrook House, Canadian Diabetes, Heart and Stroke Foundation, CancerCare and ALS. Donations are welcome as are flowers, cards and lots of hugs.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 21, 2025, May 24, 2025