WCC People

 By Kate Bird, Bulletin Editor

Lynne Foster left the B. C. Securities Commission after three enjoyable years working closely with Carol Williams in the Library. Lynne has accepted what promises to be a challenging and interesting position as Corporate Librarian with Telus.

Zena Henriquez joined the library team of the B.C. Securities Commission on a six month contract beginning October 10th. Zena previously worked in the Business and Economics Division at the Vancouver Public Library.

Debbie Schachter, Database Manager & librarian at Pacific Press has taken a position as Assistant to the Chief Librarian and Executive Officer at the British Columbia Courthouse Library Society where she be part of a team responsible for the development of plans and procedures related to the future provision of the Society's legal information services. In addition to her new job, Debbie will be completing an MBA in SFU's newest program, the Management of Technology.

Replacing Debbie at Pacific Press is Joel Minion. Joel has been working on contracts for the past several years. Joel's projects include co-developing the Virtual Reference Desk site, a co-operatively run Web subject directory maintained by public libraries, developing and delivering Internet training programs for librarians across B.C. as well as Web Librarian for the Legal Services Society.

Barb Holder, last years' president of SLA Western Canada Chapter has been named as a member of the search committee for the new executive director of SLA. The SLA news release states "Barbara Holder has been a member since 1991 and is currently employed with Forintek Canada Corporation in Vancouver. Barbara is the past president of the Western Canada Chapter and is active in the development and implementation of the virtual association."

Yvonne Mack, a former SLA WCC President, died on September 17 in Regina at the age of 40 from breast cancer. Yvonne was a very dynamic Chapter President and was responsible for much the Chapter's growth in areas outside of Calgary. Yvonne was Membership Chair in 1988-89, and SLA WCC President in 1990-91. She graduated from the University of British Columbia's School of Library, Archival and Information Studies in 1986. The Western Canada Chapter has made a donation to the Making Memories Foundation, in honour of Yvonne. Here is Yvonne's obituary which was published in the Regina Leader-Post and the Vancouver Sun on September 19, 2000:

MACK--Agnes Yvonne Mack, beloved wife of her hero, Mr. David Quon, died from breast cancer at the Pasqua Hospital's Intensive Care Unit after an elegantly ferocious journey through breast cancer on September 17, 2000 at the age of 40 years. She died enveloped in the love of her family and friends. Born October 14, 1959 to Verla Brown and Robert Mack in Claresholm, AB, Yvonne was educated in Calgary where she graduated from Forest Lawn High School. Yvonne was a born reader and began her library career at the Forest Lawn Branch of Calgary Public Library when she was eleven years old. Yvonne attended the University of Calgary where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1982. In 1979, she met her soul mate, David Quon at the University of Calgary's Kananaskis Residence. Dave and Yvonne moved to Vancouver in 1984 and Yvonne obtained her Master's of Library Science in 1986. After completing their degrees, Yvonne and Dave moved to Regina where Yvonne began work at the University of Regina as the Administration/Social Sciences Librarian. In 1989, she went to the Saskatchewan Legislative Library where she was the first Members' Services Librarian. In addition to her work as a librarian, Yvonne enjoyed travelling, learning, gardening, flowers, movies, books and loving Dave. Her trips to New York, Cuba, Monterey, Disney World, Greece and Egypt were highlights for her. In 1993, Yvonne and Dave were blessed with twin sons, Nicholas Allen Mack and Alexander Fee Quon. Yvonne was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994 and has lived with cancer for over 6 years. In 1994-95, Yvonne and Dave returned to Vancouver with their sons so that Yvonne could undergo a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. It was there that she met her Angel Oncologist, Karen Gelmon. Yvonne neither "beat cancer" nor became "a victim" of it. She learned to live deeper and truer through it and even in her darkest days, she was able to find something positive in her situation. Dave said he was first attracted by Yvonne's smile, and that smile and friendly manner made her many life-long friends. Yvonne is survived by her husband of 18 years, David and her incredible, energetic and much loved sons, Alexander and Nicholas; her beloved parents, Bob and Verla; her step-father, Chris van der Merwe; her much adored brother, David Mack; step-brother, Craig van der Merwe; her grandparents, Irwin (her example of strength under diversity) and Emma Brown; her mother and father-in-law, Anne and Victor Quon; brothers-in-law, Tony Quon and John Quon; sisters-in-law, Shelley Daku and Jean Quon; nieces, Shania Mack and Wendy Quon; nephews, Trey Mack and Tim Quon; her cats, Gizmo and Rascal; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; virtual friends on her Club Mets and Breast Cancer List and her dear friends (especially Patty, Leanne, Darlene, Wendy, Shelagh, Carol, Judy and most especially, Ilya) and her many colleagues at the many libraries where she worked. Yvonne was predeceased by her beloved grandmother, Agnes Mack and her most loved cat, Dandy. Yvonne valued the wonderful care that was given to her by Dr. Karen Gelmon, Dr. I. Yaqoob, Dr. M. Caughlin and the wonderful nurses at the B.C. Cancer Clinic in Vancouver and the Allan Blair Clinic, Ward 3D, Intensive Care Unit in Regina. Never one to miss the opportunity to host a party, Yvonne wanted a celebration of her life. We will be celebrating her life in the Saskatchewan Suite at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina on September 29, 2000 between 1 and 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Making Memories Foundation in Portland, Oregon (www.makingmemories.org) and your local Rape Crisis Centre. Yvonne was cremated and her ashes will be interred in Regina at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery and in Calgary at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, "Park Memorial Chapel", 5008 Elbow Drive S.W., Calgary, AB, Telephone: (403) 243-8200. Yvonne will be going home with Dandy, just like she promised him! "This experience is not about how I will die, it is about how I will live. So I will live each day and try to do it the way I want. With dignity, humour and as much energy as I can muster." --A. Yvonne Mack.