By Marvin Ross

I was just starting to wonder about Annick who I had not heard from for a few weeks when her obituary turned up in the Globe and Mail. Her death was not unexpected at the age of 94 but she was a physical and intellectual powerhouse so it was very unexpected.

I first became involved in schizophrenia advocacy about 25 years ago and Annick was there advocating for family caregiver improvements and volunteering at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health CAMH). From what I understood, she brought a reality to the hospital which I suspect they did not always appreciate.

She was a very solitary person who did not talk much about her life or her family. We knew she was French given her name and accent and that she visited France quite frequently. Occasionally, she would mention growing up under Nazi occupation. I don’t know how she became involved in mental illness activity but she did adopt an indigenous man with fetal alcohol syndrome and schizophrenia and I gather she found him while volunteering at CAMH.

Billie, her adopted son, died a few years ago from a number of chronic health problems and she gave him the best life he could possibly have.

She was always there to support requests for improvements and to attend any learning activities. When Hamilton had a Schizophrenia Society Chapter, there was a lecture in the distant suburbs by someone about something a good 20 plus years ago. Annick wanted to go and we agreed I would meet her bus from Toronto at the bus station and drive her to the meeting. At the time, I thought it was a long trek for someone her age but she was willing. Fortunately, she was able to get a lift back to Toronto from someone else who was there.

Susan Inman reminded me in her Memory and Condolence for Annick in the Globe that Annick had put her in touch with me when Susan had finished drafting her book After Her Brain Broke Helping my Daughter Recover Her Sanity. I wound up publishing the book in 2010 and I’m pleased to say that it is still selling well today. Susan was invited to speak at a Toronto conference for an association of psychiatric nurses and Annick came out to support her. A few of us went out to dinner and much to our surprise, Annick left shortly after we finished and announced she was picking up the bill.

Kathy Mochnacki, President of the Family Alliance for Serious Mental Illness reminded us that Annick tracked her down after one of Kathy’s letters to the editor appeared in the Toronto Star. Annick sent her in the mail a copy of “The right of caregivers to access health information of relatives with mental illness” by Billy Wing Yum Chan and Ann-Marie O’Brien. Kathy also mentioned that Annick sent generous donations to Home on the Hill a supportive housing program where her son lives.  

Her obituary points out that she made very generous and constant contributions to a great number of organizations, such as OCAD, the ROM, the Children’s Fund, the Liberal Party of Canada, The Canadian Red Cross, TVO, The Good Shepherd Ministries, The University of Toronto, Faculty of Music, The Lung Health Foundation, The Salvation Army, Grace Hospital, The UHN Foundation, The Loft Community Services, just to name a few.

Annick was cremated but her memorial service is not scheduled until November 1 at St James Cemetery. I assume her ashes will be interred there and it is fitting. St James is the oldest cemetery in Toronto dating back to 1844 and is the final resting place for many prominent Torontonians including lawyers, judges, former mayors, one father of confederation, writers, historians and whiskey magnates George and William Gooderham Sr.

Comments and memories about Annick are welcome for this post.

Mind You Reflections on mental illness, mental health and life