Left to mourn, are her husband Winston; niece Sandra J; great-nephew Andrew; siblings Lennox (Trinidad), Leslie, Joan ( Reg ) Honer, Rigel (Paul) John (UK), Steve (Cecile) Khan, Frances Khan (Toronto) and Anthony Khan (Calgary); nephews Richard, Garth (Trinidad) and Jason; nieces Ayesha, Tonya, Leila, Sandra and Cecile; great-nieces Amara (Trinidad), Deidre, Olivia and Emily; great-nephews Gabriel (Trinidad), Michael and Ben; and the Madray family and numerous relatives of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Her friend and confidante Evelyn Sawatzy of Quadra, B.C. will grieve for her.
Special friends Rosemary Gjerek, Barbara Hodge and Cathy Hellsten in Winnipeg, Kristine Koster (Vancouver), Joan Gower (Trinidad), and Fe de Leon (Toronto) will miss her dearly.
Sandra was born in Trinidad-Tobago and migrated to Canada in 1973 in order to further her education. She attended Red River Community College and the University of Manitoba, graduating with a Diploma in Chemical Technology and a B.Sc (Chemistry) respectively.
After surviving a workplace-related illness and subsequent immune system compromise in the mid-1990s, Sandra became heavily involved in and committed herself to environmental issues. Together with her friend Marg Friesen she founded Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba (CSM) to help fellow sufferers and to lobby Government. In Manitoba, for example, as a member of CHEP (Children’s Health and Environmental Partnership) she participated in the drive to eliminate the use of cosmetic lawn pesticides since she was so concerned about the effects that these products had on us and especially so on children. She also served on the Board of the Manitoba Eco-Network for several years.
At the federal level, she volunteered under the umbrella of CSM (Non-Governmental Organization or NGO). She advocated for progressive chemical regulation, sitting on the national Stakeholder Advisory Council for the Chemicals Management Plan as well as the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council.
In addition, Sandra was a board member of PCN (Prevent Cancer Now). She was convinced that much more should and can be done in regards to cancer prevention since she was also convinced that the arbitrary use of chemical products is a contributing factor.
She was an incredible and avid gardener and almost single-handedly transformed both the front and back of her yard into beautiful oases of flowers and plants that attracted bees, butterflies, humming birds…….and wasps!! Most times she could provide the names of her plants without missing a beat. It will be a task to continue her work.
Sandra loved to travel. In recent years she visited Trinidad, Peru and the Galapagos Islands. But her favourite was the island of Maui.
Sandra will be remembered by all who knew her for her generosity, quick wit, infectious laugh and readiness to help those in need.
Special thanks to her sisters Joan, Rigel and Frances who provided much care and assistance in the past two weeks.
Special thanks also to our Trini friends Joan and Derris for taking care of Sandra in July.
Thanks also to the nursing staff and to Dr. Ogaranko at the Buhler Cancer Centre for their professionalism and kindness during her visits there. You folks are incredible.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to an environmental advocacy organization such as the Manitoba Eco-Network (mbeconetwork.org). The causes for which Sandra worked so passionately and rigorously for need your support.
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