Donna Lee Balkan

Donna lost her battle with cancer on December 3, 2016. She leaves her beloved husband Jim McCarthy, her sister Liza Balkan, her step children Lindy (Allan) Mertick and Will (Jennifer Loten) McCarthy and six grandchildren; Simon and Ben Mertick, Rowan, Adrian, Devon and Gavin McCarthy as well as cousins Wayne Balkan, Glenda Balkan, Gary Field, Craig Field and Laurie Liberty. She was predeceased by her parents, William and Ellen (Field) Balkan. Donna always lived life to the fullest. A graduate of McGill and Carlton Universities, she had a rewarding 40 plus year career in journalism/communications and was employed as Communications Officer for the Dalhousie Faculty Association at the time of her death. A strong advocate for women’s equality and social justice issues, she gravitated toward the labour movement, serving on the executive of the Ottawa Newspaper Guild in the late 70’s and early 80’s, then spending six years on staff at the National Union of Provincial Government employees (now National Union of Public and General Employees). She also worked for the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Canadian Co-operative Association, all organizations which gave her the opportunity to include advocacy in her work. In 2013, Donna and Jim left Ottawa, realizing their long-time dream of moving to Jim’s native province of Nova Scotia. They settled in Dartmouth, and were delighted to be close to the ocean and their summer property at Taylor Head Provincial Park. Donna pursued her hobbies, including singing, community theatre, square dancing and board games with the same intensity as she did her working life. While living in Ottawa, she performed with the Savoy Society of Ottawa, the Ottawa Choral Society, Rural Root Theatre Company, Two Rivers Musical Productions and the National Arts Centre’s Ottawa Festival Chorus. In Dartmouth, she was a member of the You Gotta Sing Chorus and the ScotianAires, a women’s barbershop chorus which quickly became central to her life. She served on the ScotianAires Board of Directors, chaired its Public Relations and Marketing Committee and actively participated in a wide range of ScotianAires activities. Donna and Jim were also members of the Dartmouth based Stardusters square dance club. Donna would like to thank all the people who helped and supported her during her illness, including her husband Jim and sister Liza, the executive and staff of the Dalhousie Faculty Association, her ScotianAires sisters and the team at the Nova Scotia Cancer Centre. There will be a visitation on Wednesday, January 4, from 6 – 8pm with a Celebration of Life Service on Thursday, January 5, at 7 pm in McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home in Ottawa. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. Online condolences may be viewed or sent to: www.mcevoy-shields.com