Heather Amelia McDowall

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of Heather Amelia McDowall.

Heather, aged 79, passed suddenly but peacefully on Monday, December 15th while cross country skiing with close friends. Her passing was quick and without suffering, and her last moments were spent surrounded by nature, doing what she loved and with friends who loved her.

Heather will be deeply missed by her daughters, Allison Black (Julius Liptak), Amanda Black (Sheldon Butt) and Annesley Black (Robin Black-Hoffmann). Heather was an inspiration to her grandsons, Spencer Butt, Bodo Black and Oliver Liptak. Heather also leaves behind her brothers, Donald Smith (Jan) and Neil Smith (Deidre), her nieces and their families, ex-husband David Black (Kerri) and many friends. She is predeceased by her son Fraser Black and her granddaughter Jocelyn Butt.

Heather Amelia McDowall (née Smith) was born in Toronto, Ontario on May 15, 1946 to Mary Pauline Smith (née McFarland) and Neil Carmichael Smith. Heather completed her BA in Psychology at the University of Toronto (1968), followed by her Bachelor of Social Work at McMaster University in 1978. Within a few years after settling in Ottawa with her family in 1979, she completed her Masters in Social Work.

Heather was an active member of the Ottawa community, to which she lent her skills and expertise gained in her academic training. As an advocate of women’s rights, she sought ways to enable mothers to fulfill their aspirations of combining work and parenting through her work at Mothercraft and co-authorship of a book on childcare entitled “Choosing with Care”. While working at Somerset West Community Health Centre and the Pembroke General Hospital supporting military personnel, she was deeply committed to inspiring individuals and instigating change to support those who were less fortunate or those who had experienced trauma. Her strength, bravery, dynamic presence and unconventional ways inspired and empowered the communities she touched, whether in the context of parenting, community service, or recreational activities.

Heather derived renewal and joyous energy from nature, and loved to share her passion with friends and family. She was drawn to the rugged landscapes formed by the Canadian Shield. She cherished outdoor activities such as canoeing, swimming back-stroke across a lake, or kayaking to an eagles nest she had recently sighted. She chose the rustic family cottage on Grand Lake in the wilderness of Algonquin Park as a temporary residence while working in Petawawa. During this time, her route to work began with a morning kayak across the lake. If she was late, it came with a valid excuse; such as an encounter with her cantankerous neighbours - the moose or bear who refused to move out of her path until she threw her shoe at it. Later, she directed her boundless creativity and energy into designing a cottage on White Lake, where she took great joy in hosting a multitude of friends and family, often entertaining them with her outrageous stories of her most recent encounters with wild animals.

Heather was active up until her last breath, which was exactly her wish. Her presence will be missed in her hiking group, her cross-country-ski group and her Algonquin group. Her hiking trips and hankering for adventure led her to many exotic destinations from Madeira to Machu Picchu. Just months ago, she participated in a two-week kayak trip in a remote location by Vancouver Island. “Not bad for a 79-year old”, as Heather would say. Her athletic activities were countered by periods of reflection and stillness, which she shared with friends from her yoga, meditation and spiritual groups. It was inner quiet that she sought in the wilderness; she felt most at peace when surrounded by unpredictable and unconventional beauty that paralleled her own.

Her friends and family were blessed with her generosity and kindness, her passion to share experiences, fascinations and wonder with others. For many she was a source of support, whether bringing meals and conversation or physical aid to those who were ill or in need. She was quick to offer advice, a car ride, a glimpse of a beautiful songbird or refuge at her house in the woods. As a mother and grandmother she actively encouraged each child to nurture different characters and develop an individual, unique personality. She loved to act younger and sillier than her grandchildren while leading them in outlandish scavenger hunts, throwing burnt pancakes off her tenth-floor condo balcony, or chasing wild turkeys at Mud Lake. She took pleasure in playfully exposing the absurdity of social norms often to the delight of those present. When thinking of Heather, remember her unconventional sense of humour, her wild stories, her child-like curiosity, her impulsive creativity, her love of nature, her sensitivity and astute insights.

Her loved ones will miss her authenticity, compassion, open-mindedness, creativity, her generosity, passion and adventurous spirit. She touched many lives; those who were fortunate enough to know were deeply transformed by her.

Those who wish to gather to remember Heather are invited to attend a drop-in at Goldfinch Restaurant, 334 Richmond Road, from 2-5 pm on Tuesday, December 23rd. Please consider wearing colourful attire to celebrate a colourful woman. Details for a Celebration of Life for close friends and family will be provided at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following causes: Canadian Cancer Society, Indspire, or the Foundation for Canadian Parks and Wilderness.