Kathleen "Hazel" Jardine

Hazel was predeceased by her husband of 65 years (Samuel) Gordon Jardine.

She is survived by her children Bonnie (Hugh McLellan), Ted, John (Jacinto Elias), Donna (Gabriela Salazar) and Naomi (Doug Hadders), her grandchildren Stephen (Mizcha Fourie) McLellan, Kate (Calvin) Grant, and Marshall Jardine and her great-grandchildren Rosalyn & Justin Grant.

Hazel had a creative soul - sewing clothes, making costumes and toys, creating weirdly wonderful centrepieces, and eventually becoming a writer published in many newspapers, books and magazines. Her stories were featured often on CBC Radio and she self published several editions of Hazel’s World. With a fierce focus Hazel worked on changing the world. Social justice was important to her and she shared her creativity, teaching and organizational skills leading and serving on committees for Amnesty International, 10 Days for Global Justice, Project Ploughshares, Fort Qu’Appelle Peace and Justice Group, Intercultural Grandmothers Uniting and Kairos. She created a Black History curriculum for the Winnipeg school board (even though they hadn’t asked for it and she didn’t work there). The curriculum is now preserved at Tulane University in Louisiana and the research that she did was used in Steven Spielberg’s production of Amistad. Hazel was also actively involved in supporting and advocating with First Nation communities locally, provincially and federally. For her dedication and hard work Hazel was a recipient of: the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation’s 2001 Global Citizens Award; the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada; and a Certificate of Appreciation from the African National Congress and Voter Education South Africa Canada in their preparation for South Africa’s first non-racial democratic election on 27 April, 1994.

Hazel will be remembered for her incredible sense of humour and joy in story telling (getting impatient with Gordon when he would correct her account citing “accuracy”). She bought horses that couldn’t be ridden and taught her dogs how to play the piano. She created amazing treasure hunts for all the neighbourhood kids with hints that would take us hours to figure out and ended always with the prize of popcorn and koolaid. She played ping pong to win, even when her opponent was one of her young grandchildren. She put hints that were purposefully obscure on Christmas gifts so that we couldn’t guess what was inside - eventually the hint would make perfect sense. She taught us; when assembling something complicated the first step always is to throw away the instructions; when a classic musical comes on TV after midnight the best option is to make some popcorn, wake up your children then call them in sick to school the next day; sticky notes will organize your life (but if not…just write over them).

She lived life intensely and fully, took risks (with lots of preparation & precaution), and always tried her very best to be a champion for others.

We want to thank Beatrice Aito and all the staff at Harrison Manor for the incredible care they provided to our parents.

A memorial will be planned at a later date.

To honour Hazel’s memory we ask you to offer an action to support change for someone who is experiencing injustice.