Ann Marie Guy

Ann was born on December 8th, 1946 in Halifax to Herman Baker of Placentia Bay, NF and Vera (Hurlburt) Baker of Yarmouth, NS. She spent her life in the Halifax area, and after attending St. Patrick’s High School, married Roger Guy of Halifax, NS in 1970 and they settled in Dartmouth, NS.

She might have been described as a somewhat shy young woman, but that lasted only until she realized her purpose in life – helping others – at which point she blossomed into the inspirational woman we all knew: a tireless humanitarian, an advocate and sherpa for the troubled and underprivileged, and an influential leader and champion for change in her community.

Ann began her career in the Nova Scotia Department of Social Services, which is where she first experienced the incredibly positive impact that her passion and skills had on those in need. When her children arrived she stepped back from work and promptly redirected her passion to raising them. Quickly, however, her spare time filled up with community causes that mattered to her: political campaigns, her children’s school in Crichton Park and St. Peter’s Parish. It was at this time that she teamed up with others to found Adsum House, a shelter for battered women, and later Venite Court.

In 1985, she took a position that was to be her central cause for the rest of her life. When she took over Dartmouth Immigrant Orientation Association it was a fledging program helping newcomers get settled in their new life in Canada. Over 25 years, under her dedicated leadership, she grew the scope of this program to help thousands of people. She lobbied for funds, opened new centers, recruited and coached teachers, and expanded services to a comprehensive program of outreach, language, settlement and cultural teaching. Refugees and the truly underprivileged were dearest to her and they received her utmost personal care and attention. She represented them at their immigration hearings, arranged donations, support and security, and served sometimes as their only friend or counselor.

Her style was hands-on, one-on-one and direct. She would make herself available night and day to listen to you, with calmness and compassion before she would coach, encourage and plan with you. She’d then summon her intense focus on the problem at hand, taking immediate, relentless action until the problem was resolved, whether this was lobbying for policy reform, calling or writing to influencers and officials for support, or just holding someone’s hand through a new or difficult experience. She often ignored her own needs, skipping sleep and meals to help others through challenging times. Her approach made lifelong connections with everybody that she encountered, including those whose prior life experiences were more transient in nature.

It is impossible to recount all of her work, the causes she supported or people she helped, but worth noting her other significant roles on the Board of the Dartmouth Work Activity Society for twenty years providing job skills to those on income assistance and as an Officer on the Halifax Residential Tenancy Board, protecting the rights of tenants from unfair practices of landlords.

Though her modesty led her to shy away from the spotlight and redirect it to the cause she was championing, Ann received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 from the Governor General of Canada for her contribution to her community and the Province of Nova Scotia.

Though she took her commitment to helping others seriously, she never took life itself too seriously and was always ready with a smile or joke and loved to laugh. Her family always came first and it is here she most often exercised her skill at helping others. She was happiest when spending time at her cottage with her family and pets, exploring and visiting family throughout her beloved Atlantic Canada, or simply shopping or sharing a pot of tea with friends.

She is survived by her husband Roger, daughter Julie, and son Peter as well as her brother-in-law George, sister-in-law Helen, niece Lesley, nephews Cary and Stuart and their respective families.

A service will take place on Friday, June 5th at 10:30 am at Saint Peter’s Parish, 10 Maple Street , Dartmouth, NS. A reception will immediately follow next door in the Parish Hall in celebration of Ann’s life.

In lieu of flowers, Ann’s wish was that donations be made to a specific researcher making promising progress on treatment of her disease. Through the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation Adopt-a-Researcher program, please mention that you would like your donation to go to Dr. Paola Marignani.