Elnora Ruth Collins

aka ELEANOR COLLINS

Nov. 21, 1919 — March 3, 2024

__________________________

Canada’s First Lady of Jazz has died at the age of 104 years.

The Collins Family is deeply saddened to announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Mother and Grandmother Elnora (Eleanor) Collins on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at Surrey Memorial Hospital following a long and remarkable life.

Eleanor was born in Edmonton, Alberta to Richard Ellis and Estella May Cowan Proctor who were a part of the original Black settlers emigrating from Oklahoma in l909. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 70 years, Richard (Dick) Collins as well as her sisters Ruby Sneed and Pearl Hendrix Brown.

Eleanor will be remembered as a pioneer Jazz Singer who in 1955 became the first Canadian Variety Show Artist to have a CBC Television show named for her and one of the first Black Artists in North America to host her own national-weekly TV Show.

Throughout her career, Eleanor received many awards and acknowledgements including the Order of Canada in 2014; and in 2022 Canada Post issued a commemorative postage stamp honouring her contribution to Canadian Arts and Culture.

She is survived by her sons, Rick Collins (Megan & Emily), Barry Collins (Michelle & Nichole), and Tom Collins, (Umar, Nathan, Jeremy, Anthony) and her daughter Judith Maxie (Tanya); her nieces Theresa Lewis and Faith Hendrix Ray, her nephew Henri Brown and her many adored and treasured grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In these final years, Eleanor has lived cheerfully, and blessedly in her own version of independent living but with assists from her beloved extended family, friends and good neighbours as well as Community Health Home Care. She was so grateful for the “It takes a Village!” philosophy that we all shared.

Eleanor found unexpected joy in the career legacy projects that came in later life. However, her grit and grounded sense of identity as the child of those earlier turn-of-the-century pioneers never left her.

For certain, the most profound joys came through family. After the death of her beloved husband and life partner, Dick Collins, she became focused on her adored grand and great grandchildren and was happiest spending time with them laughing, cooking, visiting and marvelling in the stories and updates on their lives and accomplishments of which she was enormously proud.

These devoted grands often helped with her personal care or brought in home cooked gourmet meals on wheels; or helped her create a balcony garden or just stayed in touch by long distance phone visits that meant the world to her.

Eleanor felt blessed by the many public celebrations of her life while she was still living;

and thus, per her final wishes, there will be a private family gathering.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Eleanor’s favourite charities…

B.C. Black History Awareness Society, a CRA Reg. Charity, or

to the Performing Arts Lodge/ PAL Vancouver