Cheryl Ellen Shizgal

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Cheryl Ellen Shizgal on December 24, 2024, after a courageous battle with an aggressive cancer. Cheryl faced this illness with remarkable strength, grace, and optimism.

She was happiest in her garden, organising her community, playing violin with her quintet and with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, of which she is a past-president, and most of all, time shared with her daughters, of whom she was so incredibly supportive and proud.

Known for her modest wisdom, and unwittingly smart sense of humour, Cheryl had broad and deep friendships, and she had a truly meaningful impact on so many people. She had an extraordinary ability to bring people together: Family, friends, neighbourhood groups, work friends and colleagues, musician friends, the mommy groups from 19 years ago, Ecole Bilingue’s seismic upgrade parent committee, book clubs, and many more.

Cheryl went to École Bilingue for kindergarten, and grade one in Brussels. Owing to the advanced French education in Belgium, she skipped grade two on her return to École Bilingue. She also completed grade seven in France, after which she enrolled in the French Immersion program at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary in Vancouver, and graduated in 1986. Cheryl achieved her Bachelor of Commerce degree from UBC Sauder School of Business in 1990. Cheryl then attended York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, and graduated in 1993. She articled with Alexander Holburn Beaudin and Lang in Vancouver and she was called to the bar in 1994, and remained an Associate until 1996.

Cheryl joined Coast Mountain Bus Company in 1996, and enjoyed an acclaimed, productive, 28-year career, rising to Director of Labour Relations in 2008. She loved “working for the bus company”. Although immeasurably humble, she was an influential professional, and was highly respected and trusted by colleagues on both sides of the bargaining table, by legal colleagues, arbitrators, and other industry professionals throughout BC. In 2004, Cheryl was selected to attend the prestigious Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, which focussed on Canada’s North, and the importance and uniqueness of Canada’s Indigenous people.

Cheryl is survived by her daughters, Michelle and Rachel, her husband David Worland, her parents, Bernard and Judy Shizgal, her brother Jason, who will forever hold her memory close to their hearts.

A ceremony and reception were held December 31, 2024 at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, Cheryl would have preferred that a donation be made to a charity of your choice.

A life unexpectedly cut short, Cheryl left us all too soon. But her legacy of love, courage, and determination will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.