My sincere condolences to the family and friends, and all who knew Karen(sorry, I'm just seeing this now, and we are already mid-May). I was at Mackay from 1981-85, and I believe Karen was the assistant principal or coordinator back then. I absolutely loved her!

Karen Hulme: A Tapestry of Light

In the hallowed halls of the Mackay Center, where laughter echoed like butterflies in flight, there always was Karen Hulme. Her spirit, a palette of vivid hues, has painted the canvas of my live.

She was more than a teacher; she was a weaver of dreams. Her classroom, a sanctuary where disabilities dissolved, replaced by the magic of unorthodox approaches. Karen’s eyes held the constellations of hope, guiding us toward galaxies of possibility and inclusion.

As the sun have set on her earthly journey, with  a heavy heart I will remember Karen for ever.

Farewell, dear Karen and rest in peace.

Karen Hulme: A Tapestry of Light

In the hallowed halls of the Mackay Center, where laughter echoed like butterflies in flight, there always was Karen Hulme. Her spirit, a palette of vivid hues, has painted the canvas of my life.

She was more than a teacher; she was a weaver of dreams. Her classroom, a sanctuary where disabilities dissolved, was replaced by the magic of unorthodox approaches. Karen’s eyes held the constellations of hope, guiding us toward galaxies of possibility and inclusion.

As the sun has set on her earthly journey, with a heavy heart I will remember Karen forever.

Farewell, dear Karen and rest in peace.

My special times with Karen were in different places and circumstances over many years, but I will never forget our first meeting. 
I was a 'wet behind the ear' untrained special education teacher in the early 1980's when I took a professional day off from work to go to MacKay Centre, to sit at the "master's feet" - Karen Hulme!  A day I always remember - no advanced university course taught me that much in one day! She was always and remained a brilliant teacher for life.

Several decades later, and after spending time together as friends, we drove together to and,  from Magog to attend a mutual friend's birthday party in June 2018.  I remember returning home stunned by the abundance of knowledge she shared and the unrelenting passion she would exhude when she talked about her work. Her creativity was unending.

It's good to know that "she did it her way" to the end. She surely left her mark on this world - especially that of our special needs population where so many more like her are needed to continue to make a difference.

Our sincerest condolences to her family & friends.

Please accept our most heartfelt condolences on the passing of Karen, she will always be remembered for the lovely warm hearted person she was.

Sammy, Paul and Gail Gross

Although I haven't seen or spoken with Miss  Hulme in over 40 years. I just wanted to say thank you for her dedication to the integration program at Mackay Centre, through which I gained more motivation and opportunity to overcome the limitations of disability and live a fuller life.

I am currently working in the tech sector in the Ottawa area and have been for 31 years. Miss Hulme's dedication was an important part of enabling that. 

Thank you, Miss Hulme! My deepest condolences to her family and friends.

In the hearts of those who loved Karen , she will always be there. She will always be treasured forever in our memories.  “I keep in my heart the love and fun  of the past, for there it was planted forever to last.” " Her presence I miss, her memory I treasure, loving her always, forgetting her never.” 

My deepest condolences  to Olivia and Karen's family .

Love , ❤
Lucille

RIP Karen thank you for all your hard work to make all our lives better and richer in every possible way you gave us all the fighting chance to be able to achieve and expand with our obstacles that each individual has faced through the years you were behind us all this is a great loss for Mackay Centre.

Heartfelt sympathies to all who knew, loved and will miss Karen. I knew her many years ago at Mc Kay Centre. She was an energetic, positive person with a mission to make life better for disabled children and to better equip them to assume their place in society. Karen was a trailblazer, ahead of the curve and not always understood (or appreciated) by the decision makers. But she loved the kids and was steadfast in her mission. Karen made a difference and she left this word a better place for her actions. May she rest in peace.

The process of getting to know Karen is like the aging of wine. It is a little brusque at the beginning and mellows and it gains many subtle and complex notes with time. 

She came into out lives as the teaching whirlwind that pushed Morgan to his maximum.  She always said Morgan had things to teach her but, truth be told,  she taught us a lot about Morgan from what she learned from him.

She became our friend whom we played cards. Her "poker face" was one of woe, that she was confused or losing, right up till the moment that she said I won.

Her country (wilderness) house was an experience to visit.  She got great joy in sharing it with everyone who came there.  

We will miss her and remember her, with joy, every time we are in place or with people that remind us of her.  

Florence Fried,  Nelson & Morgan Asinowski

Karen Hulme's Grade 4 Class 2004-2005 Mackay Centre School
April 14, 2005

Karen Hulme's Grade 4 Class 2004-2005 Mackay Centre School

Karen Hulme's Grade 4 Class 2004-2005 Mackay Centre School
March 2005

Karen Hulme's Grade 4 Class 2004-2005 Mackay Centre School
February 2005

Karen was my Godmother, and was always positive and supportive to me, throughout my life. She was larger than life and definitely a one of a kind who will leave a big hole where she once was. 

Unfortunately I am unable to attend the celebration of her life, but will watch from afar. I hope the party that she wanted ensues, giving her the sendoff that she deserves. She will be missed.    

RIP my SAKD. XO

What a powerhouse Karen was--a force for goodness in our community, a  role model to many of us, our family included.  Karen came into our lives more than two decades ago, and her spirit continues to move us. I'll always remember her advice when I wanted to mainstream our daughter:  "Your child needs to be with people she is like" --wise words that became even more appropriate as our daughter grew older. Karen's wisdom still resonates daily. 

Olivia, I am so grateful to you for being there to nurture Karen through difficult times. She was lucky to have you by her side--just as C.A.R.E., Karen's favorite charity, is lucky to have you at the helm. I look forward to being with all you others who loved Karen and celebrating her life. --Harriet

You were the best at what you did - thank you for opening the door for me and countless others- and for believing I Could do it too and giving me the strength to believe in myself.

As the former longtime president of the Montreal Teachers Association, the union representing teachers in the former PSBGM and now the EMSB, I had the honour and privilege of representing the teachers at Mackay Centre for many years, a group of very dedicated teachers. And among them, Karen Hulme certainly stood out in her absolute determination to make the integration of her students into ‘regular’ classes work, as well as to integrate ‘regular’ students into Mackay, creating many more compassionate champions for students with special needs. 

She was passionate, opinionated, intelligent, outspoken, ingenious, and untiring in her commitment to all students, and for me, a total  delight. 

When times were difficult in the union world, Karen was one of those teachers I could just think of and immediately be re-energized to continue the struggle to improve classroom conditions for our students.

As luck would have it, I happened to bump into Karen at Marathon Restaurant a few short months ago, and we had the chance to have what has turned out to be our last conversation. We were able to express our mutual appreciation for the work we both had done and for the passion we shared.  

Karen was special in the best sense of special, and her mark on the education of her students changed the landscape in Montreal in an indelible way. 

Her sense of fun was contagious, and the loss of Karen is a major one. My condolences to her family, friends, and her former colleagues and students. Karen, you gave it your all and more!

Ruth Rosenfield

I first encountered Karen at Mackay Center nd and quickly found that this enthusiastic dynamo never let up!  Aside from her high level of professionalism, she added a surprise element: Off the wall humour that pushed the boundaries of a staid educational institution. 
A few memories:
She always instilled a spirit of fun in dealing with students. She liked to push a wheelchair as fast as possible at the end of the day down the long hallway to the waiting busses. The seated kid always  squealed and whooped with laughter. Soon other teachers  joined this end of the day activity. So - the races were on! Minor collisions added to the excitement and students clamoured to be participants every day! Of course Karen usually won,  - but there was always tomorrow.....
Her desire to instill fun into every day was a sharp contrast to the historic tradition that these kids were to be treated with kid gloves - as patients.

Auriel and I held a Dwile Flonking, a medieval English drinking game one weekend at our home in Morin Heights for the staff [Google the details]. Karen was a deadly flonker and wielded her driveller with precision, scoring points at double the rate of anyone else. As  the consumption of ale is an essential component of the game,  many  stayed  for the night, being incapable of driving home. Karen slept in the stable with our daughter Chantelle in the hayloft. 

Karen was the first teacher at Mackay to welcome a “normal” student in her class in the reverse integration program. My son, Keelan was the first... Thanks to Karen,  he completed 160% of the course material in one year. The program was a great success, notwithstanding many challenges, thanks to Karen’s leadership. 

I loved working with Karen.  I am in awe of her lifelong service to others. She made the world a better place for all who knew her.  I’ll never forget her and what she did. Thank you Karen for being you and enriching my life and the lives of so many others...

Colin Tisshaw
Coquitlam, BC

I remember Karen as a happy smiling lady, whenever you would pass her in the hallways at Mackay centre she would always say hello and greet you with her lovely smile. RIP Karen, condolences to all her friends and family.

I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Karen. Karen was not just a teacher, but a guiding light during my formative years in well beyond elementary. Even though our interactions were brief, her impact on me has endured through the years.

Karen had an extraordinary presence and an unwavering love for all children. She instilled in us the values of curiosity and inclusion, urging us to explore the world with open minds and demand equal opportunity and participation at every turn. Her belief in our strengths and her expectation that we rise to our full potential were pillars of her teaching philosophy.

I remember her as a force to be reckoned with, an unbreakable force that blazed trails for others to follow. Her dedication to her students and passion for education were palpable. She left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of learning from her.

Although it has been about 20 years since I was in her classroom, the lessons she imparted and the example she set continue to influence me today. Now, as a therapist, I aspire to bring the same love, dedication, and passion to my work that Karen brought to hers.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this difficult time. Karen's legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched. 

With deepest sympathy,

Liam

Carolina Baldassarre and family will always remember Karen with a smile on their faces.

You have always been the "Karen" the world needs. Your efforts to make another's life easier/better were boundless...and, if I think about, boundary-less, too. You will be forever missed and appreciated. 

Donna & Magued Nawar ( two of many grateful participants in Karen's tea/public speaking projects.)

Karen was wild.. I was a student of hers a long time ago. She was a force of nature as a teacher. She was strict, and I didn’t really like that about her. I remember being afraid of her. She was the best teacher I’ve ever had. The biggest academic achievement I had in her class was reading. The most important thing I learned in her class was appreciation of others. Karen took my class to camp, where I learned she had a sense of humour. I’ll never forget her running around with a bra on her head due to a bet. It was hilarious! As the years went by she'd check in on me, often through my mother.  She was a teacher who loved her students. I’m now 28 years old, in university for a BA in Disability Studies with a minor in political science. Karen, I would NOT be where I am if you hadn’t been my teacher. Thank you for caring so deeply. I love you. Rest well, my dear. With love,
Georgia Beauchemin

Anyone who came into contact with Karen will acknowledge that her glaring smile said it all. When we first met her at the Mackay Centre in 1982, her smile gave us a feeling that new horizons were opening up: horizons of hope, promise and willingness. As parents of a 6 year old daughter at the time, severely disabled with cerebral palsy, Karen new of the challenges we were confronted with, and listening to her downright , helpful and forward-looking views and suggestions , many possibilities which seemed unachievable became suddenly available . It felt like a fresh summer morning breeze. Karen was a devoted , loving and caring person. She was an inspiration to the disabled and their parents, and to all the people who came in contact with her. She touched many of us with her kindness, her knowledge and her generosity. She keeps inspiring us and she is still very alive in our memories. She shines among the stars.
Thank you Karen
Our sincere condolences to the family and friends .
Paolo, Nuria and Vanessa Del Grande
Victoria, BC. April 5th, 2024

Karen you will be miss. I remember you when I help out in  the class.
We work together. You had  my son almost had Karen  for a teacher.
They  had another teacher came  in for the third grade.
Karen  you will  be miss.
Love Eileen,  Eric Guerin.

Karen was phenomenal with my younger brother, Edouard. Dedicating her time, energy, and building a relationship with with him as his tutor. Karen not only taught my younger brother how to be a better student, but also taught him the life skills that help him to become a more independent adult. She left a lasting influence on him, and on our entire family. She was funny, generous, and will be missed by our entire family.

In her/our early years (late 60’s and 70’s)  teaching at the MacKay Center, we had many happy times together. Karen was such a breath of fresh air,
always adding laughter and sunshine to her students’  lives. Who better to accompany 50 plus students jetting to Disneyworld on those magical trips in the 70’s. The kids loved her and she was indefatigable. Karen definitely made her mark over the years on integration practices for special needs children in Montreal. A life well lived. 
Kent Clark London, ON

Without Karen in my life, I'd probably be digging through the garbage for cans to trade in for cash. When McGill rejected my flimsy application for the 1G, she grabbed me and off we went to see the  McGill X president, Pete Pedersen. After listening to Karen's recommendation and hearing about my experience, we all marched  into the Ed. Department, whereupon they recinded their decision and accepted me, stating that the original rejection was based on my error. Thank-you forever Karen. Love Gail

I haven’t seen Karen in many years but I remember her very fondly from my time going to school at the Mackay centre. Condolences to her family.

OBITUARY

Karen Hulme

14 April, 1943 – 27 March, 2024

Résidences funéraires Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Homes

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