1966-2016

It's with heavy hearts and great sadness that the family of Dr. Nicole Bourque announce her sudden and unexpected passing at her home in Glasgow, Scotland.

Nicole was born in Fredericton to George and Julia Bourque on July 25th, 1966. She graduated from Fredericton High School in 1984 and went to the University of New Brunswick where she completed a degree in Anthropology with First Class Honours. Her outstanding scholarship earned her a prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship which funded her pursuit of a PhD at the University of Cambridge (Girton College). She won an O'Brien Foundation award to fund her fieldwork in Ecuador which resulted in her outstanding thesis "Of Soups, Saints and Sucres".

She received her PhD in 1993 and joined the faculty in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow, where she spent her whole career, her final position being that of Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology.

She was deeply committed to her work, her students, and her faculty colleagues. An open, friendly and caring person with a winning personality (and a good listener), her expansive knowledge and easy manner made her a stellar conversationalist. She was bubbling with life and made so many long-lasting friendships everywhere she went.

Apart from her life as a scholar, she was a free spirit who, the moment her work was done, loved to travel. Over the years she visited dozens of countries and became somewhat of a polyglot. She was a mountain climbing enthusiast and climbed mountains all over the world. She was only the second Canadian woman to climb all 282 Munros in Scotland and the first from New Brunswick to do so. Munros are mountains that are over 3000 feet in Hight (914 meters).

Nicole was very humble despite her many accomplishments, too numerous to mention here. Her passing leaves a big void at the University of Glasgow, and among her colleagues, students, friends and family.

Nicole is survived by her parents, George and Julia Bourque, her beloved siblings, Jacqueline Bourque (Bill Briggs) of Fredericton, Vaughan Bourque, of Fredericton, Dr. Christine Bourque (Joe MacDonald) of Ottawa, nieces Jordyn Bourque and Nicole Bourque, and nephews Vincent Briggs, Simon Briggs, Liam Briggs, all of Fredericton, James and Daniel MacDonald of Ottawa, and one grandnephew, Cypress Fletcher of Fredericton, and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be on Sunday, Nov. 6th, 2016, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at St Francis of Assisi Church, 2130, Route 102 (Lincoln Road). A celebration mass will be held on Monday, November 7th, at 12:00 noon, at the same location. Interment to follow in the St Francis of Assisi Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Francis of Assisi Parish.

Richard Hornsby

Director, Centre for Musical Arts
University of New Brunswick

Congratulations Peter!

Fredericton Playhouse honours Peter Pacey with The Playhouse Honours

1979 recipient has mentored hundreds of young artists through work with Calithumpians Theatre Company

Fredericton theatre mainstay Peter Pacey has received the Playhouse Honours from the Fredericton Playhouse.

The veteran actor, producer and director is perhaps best known for founding Fredericton's Calithumpians Theatre Company, an entertainment and educational group that has put on free, live theatre and historic walking tours for 35 years.

" My research work into New Brunswick Literature in 1979, which was funded in part by a grant from the O'Brien Foundation was a major inspiration for the Calithumpians. To be awarded this grant at a time when I was striking out on my and leaving the security of a full time teaching position was pivotal in the path that I chose. I will be forever grateful to J Leonard O'Brien for his generosity and foresight to set up a funding process to support aspiring New Brunswickers to follow their dreams. This seed funding encouraged me take the road less travelled. "  

Peter Pacey

1946-2016

It is with great sadness that the family of Vincent T. W. Shannon announces his passing on May 3, 2016 at the Saint John Regional Hospital.  Born on November 1, 1946 in Saint John, he was a son of the late Thomas and Cecilia Shannon.   

Vince graduated from St. Malachy’s High School, St. Francis Xavier University (B.Sc.), and received his dental degree from Dalhousie University.

Vince opened a general dental practice in 1972 in Saint John and was awarded the O’Brien Foundation Scholarship in 1978 and 1979.  He took his specialty training in periodontics at Tufts University, Boston, Mass.  Upon completing his periodontics specialty, he joined the Faculty of Dentistry at Dalhousie University, then returned to Saint John in 1982 to open a periodontal practice.  He retired in 2013.

Vince held numerous professional positions including: President of the Atlantic Society of Periodontology; Chief of Dentistry, Region 2; and Board Member of the J. Leonard O’Brien Humanitarian Trust from 1988-1997. He was a longstanding member of the Saint John Dental Society, the New Brunswick Dental Society, and the Nova Scotia Dental Society.

Vince was a true "gentleman"- scrupulously honest, quietly generous, and a rock who unfailingly provided support to others.  He was a life-long member of the Cathedral Parish of Saint John. He valued family as the most important asset of his life.

Surviving are his wife Lorraine (Whalen); children, Lesley (Steve Wilton), Vancouver; Matthew, Ottawa; brother, Andrew (Janet), Vancouver; several nieces, nephews and extended family.

Resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424) with visiting on Thursday and Friday, May 5 and 6, 2016 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 91 Waterloo Street, Saint John on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 10:00 am.  Interment will take place in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

For those who wish, remembrances may be made to the Cathedral Restoration Fund or to a charity of one’s choice.   www.brenansfh.com