Deborah Anne Bryck

August 1952 – June 2024 

On June 8/2024, Deborah Anne Bryck of North Vancouver passed away.

Deborah was born in August of 1952 at the Ituna Community Hospital (Saskatchewan), which was a town next to her hometown of Hubbard (current population now 45 compared to Metropolitan Vancouver at 2.5 million).  Deborah had the fortune of having an older brother (Lorne) and sister (Elaine) who took very good care of her and watched over her as she grew up.

Deborah grew up on a farm just on the outskirts of Hubbard (about 1km). This enabled her to visit and play with her friends in town.  Her farm was close by the major CN rail line which runs across Canada and has special significance in terms of Confederation. 

Deborahs parents (Anne and Elnor) were like most farmers at the time having a mixed farm including both grains and livestock. In addition, they were one of the suppliers of dairy products to at that time the expanding and growing town of Hubbard. This meant working 7 days a week in terms of livestock tending and chores, which once Deborah got older, she helped out with. Later on Deborah’s mother would become the first female “Postmaster” at the Hubbard Post Office.

The “milk cheques” were also important as they provided the extra income for Deborah during her early teenage years to take piano lessons, but this involved carpooling for years travelling (150 km return) to Yorkton including dealing with harsh winter weather conditions. At age 14, Deborah received her Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto Certification at a standing of First-Class Honors. 

Throughout her life Deborah played the piano and this interest and dedication was continued by her daughter (Cherish) who sang in a High School choir and starred in various musicals. This also led to the generational transfer to her two granddaughters (Annie & Lila) who sang and played in various piano concerts. In terms of musical interests, Deborah’s favorite throughout her life was Leonard Cohen who she got to see live at one of his last performances.

Deborah completed her elementary grades at Hubbard and then went by school bus to Ituna to complete her high school. It was the school bus rides which set the circumstances for Deborah to meet the “Love of her Life” her partner to be, Murray Bryck which led to their marriage in April 29 of 1972 at Melville and Ituna lasting for 52 years of marriage until 2024. 

The “school bus circumstances” were that of Murray having a mother who was a great chef of pastries of which Murray selectively shared only with Deborah.

Deborah was always a conscientious student and excelled at all her subjects, especially social sciences, but she had to and did work extra hard to maintain her good standing in the natural sciences. 

Deborah’s approaches of working hard and academic diligence paid off, as after high school she went to the University of Regina and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1973. Also, by coincidence, Murray was also at the University of Regina, having completed his Bachelor of Arts. Approximately 5 years later, while working and having had a child (Cherish), Deborah returned to the University of Regina and having received a George Reed Foundation Scholarship, she completed a Bachelor of Social Work at a Grade A level standing.

Deborah’s interest in social services and particularly childcare was already underway when she became the Chairperson (1976) of the 24-Hour Child Care Coop in Regina, one of the first of its kind in Saskatchewan and Canada. Enrolled at the day care was daughter Cherish at age 1 year.

Being a very caring person, Deborah naturally gravitated to the area of Social Sciences and her first job from 1974 to 1979 was a Social Worker with the Saskatchewan Department of Social Services (now Ministry).  This was followed by a position as the Pediatric Medical Social Worker at Wascana Hospital (1979 – 1980). 

In 1980, Deborah returned to Saskatchewan Social Services and took a position with the newly formed Child Care Services Unit (1980 – 1988) of which she became the Assistant Director. During her tenure she developed and implemented many new and innovative policies and programs in the rapidly expanding social service field of childcare services.

Staying in Social Services, Deborah undertook a Senior Policy Analyst position from 1988 to 1990. In the early 1990’s, during the Eastern European orphanage crisis, Deborah took on the position of Coordinator of International Adoptions. 

Deborah was a technology innovator and was one of the first employees (1980s) to start using computers at work. She helped implement computer technologies in her areas of responsibility.  

In the late 1980s, Deborah and Murray “returned to their roots” by forming a farming partnership with their family (Larry and Gayle). While this was extra work, in addition to their full-time jobs, the activities were rewarding in terms of family relations.

Based on her love of children and public service, in 1992, Deborah returned to the Child Care Services Unit and after managing and expanding the services considerably, she became Director. During her time in the field of child care services, Deborah became well known for her tireless efforts to advocate and expand day care availability and funding for parents. During her child care position responsibilities, Deborah served on many senior and executive Day Care Committees including the multi-jurisdictional Federal/Provincial Day Care Committee. Deborah received many social and community awards for her child care leadership and activities.  By the time Deborah left the Child Care Unit, the budget had tripled, rising to over $30 million.

Deborah’s final career years in the field of Social Services involved the position of Senior Policy Advisor. She served in this role from 2005 to 2009.

During Deborah’s social service career of over 35 years, she undertook many professional and volunteer activities in terms of board and committee representations. These centered on children’s rights and programs/services, day care availability and funding, education/learning, social/public policy development and women’s issues /rights. 

While Deborah loved her place of birth and residency, the birth of a second grandchild meant leaving the known and accustomed city life of Regina including many relatives and friends and moving (2011) to Vancouver and later North Vancouver. Known as “NANA”, simply stated, Deborah loved her grandchildren with all her heart and once in retirement, she dedicated herself to help raise them as strong independent, caring and worldly oriented women (Annie/Lila).  

During Deborah’s life of almost 72 years, she experienced many social and economic changes both positive and negative. Deborah always was an optimist, a trait which she received from her mother, and she conveyed this throughout her life. Starting at an early age, Deborah developed caring and social ideas and beliefs which led her to be a feminist, supporter of human/political rights and environmental causes. These important much needed perspectives in today’s world have been passed on to her family and friends.

While Deborahs fortitude and optimism enabled her to take on and win many small and large challenges in her life, in the Fall of 2019, just before COVID, she was overpowered by the horrible life-disintegrating disease of Alzheimer’s.  Unfortunately, in her case, it was a rare version of being very rapid to take effect.

Deborah was predeceased by father Elnor (1983), mother Anne (1996), and brother Lorne (1998). Deborah leaves to cherish her memory, partner Murray of North Vancouver, daughter Cherish Bryck (Andrew Wilczynski), granddaughters Annie and Lila of Deep Cove and sister Elaine of Prince Albert. Also, Deborah leaves many other close family members.

FINAL WORDS

The passing of a family member brings on numerous questions about our human mortality. The short Poem entitled – To Let Go, succinctly describes the essence of life and death, specifically losing those most dear to us and our ability as humans to understand these monumental, but inevitable events. The following poem summarizes these universal human emotions:

To Let Go

“There are things we don’t want to happen, but have to accept;

Things we don’t want to know, but have to learn;

And people we can’t live without, but have to let go.”

CONDOLENCES and DONATIONS

Condolences can be sent herein.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be forwarded to the Alzheimer Society of BC (1 800 936 6033) at https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en/take-action/donate or Dying with Dignity Canada (1 800 495 6156) at https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/donate/.

An option is also available to plant tree(s) in Deborah’s memory through A Living Tribute or One Tree Planted or another organization of your choice.