Alexandra "Ali" Beatrice Manning

On October 16th we lost our daughter, Alexandra (Ali) Beatrice Manning. She was born at the old Grace Maternity Hospital on Summer Street in Halifax on May 26th, 1986. Her ‘Irish twin’ sister, Kerrilyn, was also born at the Grace on the 2nd of October 1987. She lost her sister. We are a close family and are incredibly saddened by our sudden loss but are wrapped with fond memories of a childhood and adulthood together that sustains our spirit.

Apart from two years spent in Australia, Ali spent a happy childhood at the Head of St. Margaret’s Bay. She attended Mount Saint Vincent University for her B. Sc. and B. Ed. Degrees and Dalhousie University for her M.D., where she also completed her Residency in Psychiatry, specializing in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Following her residency, she took up an appointment in the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University. Her clinical attachment was with the IWK where she was honoured to have worked alongside a wonderful group of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists. Her passion was medical education, and she served as Program Director within the Department of Psychiatry. A particular interest of hers was Balint Groups and she introduced these into the residency curriculum. She was a member of the American Balint Society and regularly presented at local and international conferences.

Prior to her time as a physician, she spent many happy years as an interpreter at the NS Museum of Natural History and fondly remembered her strolls with Gus the Tortoise in the Public Gardens.

Ali found a treasured community at Bishop’s Landing, where she lived for many years. She loved strolling along the waterfront and enjoyed the café culture on offer. Her Saturday routine was a visit to the market, a walk up to Atlantic News to get her copy of the Globe and Mail, often stopping for a coffee or Aperol Spritz at the Pane e Circo where she would do the cryptic crossword puzzle. Games were a family trait, and we have many fond memories of epic nights during holiday times when we gathered as a family. Ali frequently brought weird and wonderful games that kept us laughing. She also loved the beauty of Nova Scotia. She enjoyed hiking and time spent on the coast. Travel was a big part of her life. A family tradition was to spend Christmas in the UK, Portugal, Italy or a warm weather US destination. Her birthday tradition was a trip to Newfoundland to see the icebergs. Her favourite spot for this was St Anthony and she loved the drive up the Northern Peninsula through Gros Morne National Park. She was an art collector. Her condo reflects memories, full of artifacts collected throughout her life.

2026 was a bittersweet year for Ali. She celebrated her 40th birthday, was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in Dalhousie University’s Department of Psychiatry and received the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine 2026 Early Career Award of Excellence in Education for her “leadership as Psychiatry Residency Program Director, her work strengthening accreditation processes, and her contributions to national and international educational policy with the Royal College and the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools”. She was also diagnosed with a particularly rare and aggressive cancer in March. She retained her good humour and strength of mind throughout her battle and passed away peacefully at our family home at the Head of St Margaret’s Bay.

Ali, we are so very proud of everything you accomplished in your forty years. We will miss you greatly - your infectious smile, enthusiasm, and warmth. Your presence was a gift – taken away too soon. Love you sunshine, you’ll always live in our hearts.

Mum, Dad and Kerri

As per her wishes, Ali has been cremated and requested that we celebrate her how she lived, full of love and laughter.