Legacy Matters

Doreen Deane (1936-2020) was a staple figure in Shawnigan’s Performing Arts programme for two decades and her passion, enthusiasm and genuine love for theatre, musical theatre and singing encouraged and inspired numerous cohorts of students as well as staff at Shawnigan. Doreen’s life was defined by her love of people and a deep-seated desire to spread joy and happiness wherever she went. She always worked closely with schools, and her passion for working with young people started when she served as a junior matron in a boarding school in Broadstairs, Kent. She left that post to study geriatric nursing, and left nursing when she married. But she continued to dedicate her days to volunteering for many causes. While in England, she worked for Barnardo’s charity for vulnerable children and the Sue Ryder Foundation, which assists older people to live safely and independently. After moving to Canada in 1977, she became an amateur coach of tiny tots at the White Rock Figure Skating Club, performed for and helped organise the Peace Arch Musical Theatre Society, and volunteered weekly to work with physically and mentally challenged youth at a home in Surrey. Encouraged by her husband Robert, she indulged in a life-long desire to take vocal lessons in her forties, and earned a place in the choir of The Handel Society of Music, eventually shouldering the responsibility of engaging the choir’s soloists. She also belonged to the West Coast Amateur Musicians Society and was a founding member of the Opus 1 choir of Duncan.

Throughout his life, Robert Deane (1935-2010) encouraged Doreen to pursue her passions, and was particularly supportive of her volunteer work at Shawnigan and in the local Cowichan Valley community. Robert believed in life-long learning, and he was a master of many hobbies, among them rock-hounding, gem-cutting, and astronomy. He was a close friend of Shawnigan legend Graham L. Anderson ’46 (Groves’), and the two of them had spirited conversations on Egyptology, esoteric science and comparative religion. But there was another side to Robert: people sought out his calm wisdom and his genuine desire to help. He also believed that life is immeasurably enriched when we engage in performance and strive to fulfil our potential. As a young man, he won a number of trophies for public speaking, and he gave regular conjuring performances as a member of the Cambridge Pentacle Club. When he passed away after a brief battle with cancer in 2010, volunteering remained at the core of Doreen’s daily life, and we are deeply grateful to the school community for all the support our mother received in the decade following. In later years, Doreen struggled with increasing dementia, and at the age of 80 she retired from her volunteer work at Shawnigan Lake School. She was the recipient of Senior Fine Arts Colours in May 2004 and the Stag Award on 25 June 2016 in recognition of her outstanding service to Performing Arts at the School. 

The ashes of Robert and Doreen Deane are interred in the cemetery of St. John the Baptist, Cobble Hill.

Editor’s Note: Should readers wish to share their support for the Performing Arts at Shawnigan Lake School and demonstrate their love and respect for Doreen, this can be done by clicking here: https://www.shawnigan.ca/support/donate-now

At a future date, a celebration of life for Doreen Deane will take place in the School’s Chapel. Tentatively, we are considering a reception to follow, likely to include a cabaret performance in the Hugh Wilkinson Theatre.

For more information please contact:

Hilary Abbott,

(250)715-8565 cell/text