It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the sudden passing of our friend and colleague Wendy Hall, on June 14, 2024. Many of us at CLBC and in the Community Living and Self Advocacy Movements were touched by Wendy’s advocacy work, her leadership and her dedication to making our community more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Wendy was a parent, an advocate and a community ally. She served on the City of Nanaimo Accessibility Committee and was a member of the CLBC Central Island Community Council for six years. Wendy was a volunteer advisor with BC People First and a long-standing resource parent with the Family Support Institute.
Wendy also played an instrumental role in re-designing the way CLBC welcomes new people and families into the adult landscape of support and services. She volunteered her time to work alongside CLBC and self-advocacy leaders to create the CLBC Welcome Workshop series, where she was a presenter in the Nanaimo community for six years. She then became a provincial Welcome Workshop trainer helping to build the confidence and skillsets of other presenters from around the province.
“Wendy was an amazing presenter who made everyone feel safe and comfortable,” says Brita Hall, CLBC Provincial Community Engagement Lead, who had the opportunity to work closely with Wendy. “She made people laugh and inspired them with her stories, encouragement, poems and personal experiences. Wendy motivated others to stay positive and never give up. She loved her family, advocating with and for others, dragon boat racing and sharing her poetry. She volunteered her time to advocate for others and provided much-needed support without being asked. She was passionate about inclusion and walked the talk of making our community more welcoming and accessible for everyone.”
Wendy will be missed by her friends and colleagues at CLBC and beyond. Her humour, positivity and persistence that the world is a place where everyone belongs will guide us to work together in ways that are respectful and kind and full of hope. We are honoured to share a video recording of Wendy reading one of her inspiring poems which you can watch below.
Wendy’s obituary can be found in the Nanaimo News Bulletin here.
Her celebration of life will be July 12, 2024, at 1:00pm at Departure Bay Baptist Church in Nanaimo. Wendy spoke of a celebration where everyone is included, and children are dancing.
