Fay Carole Olson-Vickery

The Toronto jazz community has lost one of its most influential foundations with the passing of Fay Olson Vickery October 3 after a long illness, and the world has lost her laughter and amazing generosity of spirit.

She is survived by her husband Don Vickery, her daughter Joan Wark (Larry), brothers Ron, Glen (Maureen), Murray (Judi) and sister Beth Hannan, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Don (Rosemarie) and sister Lois Watson.

Born to Horace (Bob) Olson and Nora Olson in Fenwood, Saskatchewan, she moved with the family to Lethbridge Alberta and then entered the workforce in Toronto as a copywriter for Radio Station CFRB.

She then joined one of Canada’s top PR firms, Public Relations Services Limited, and then in 1972, moved with PR executive Stan Houston and other PRSL executives when he founded The Houston Group Public Relations Limited where she rose to become Executive Vice President.

It was in the field of public relations that Fay found her true calling as she began working on and developing the many music-oriented sponsorships of Imperial Tobacco Limited, the agency’s largest client---sponsorships that began with coordinating musicians and groups to promote the Millbank brand and moved on to being a founder or co-founder of the du Maurier Council for the Arts, the talent show du Maurier Search for Stars with CBC producer Ray McConnell, and her pride and joy--- the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival in 1987--- along with the late Jim Galloway and Pat Taylor.

For many years, she employed her exceptional communications and organizational skills in organizing and supervising all aspects of the Media Communications centers at Imperial’s sports sponsorships; the Peter Jackson Golf Tour, du Maurier Canadian Open Golf Championship (PGA Tour), du Maurier Classic Golf Championship (LPGA Tour), Player’s International Canadian Open Tennis Championships (ATP and WTA Tours), the 1984 Canada Cup Hockey Championship and events such as the 1973 Miles for Millions Celebrity Torch relay which included Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Toronto Mayor David Crombie.

After retiring from the Houston Group, she founded Fay Olson and Associates, with her first client being the Canadian Equestrian Team, who were familiar with the outstanding promotional work she had done on behalf of the du Maurier International equestrian competitions at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. Her musical connections and experience led her into the area of booking musical groups such as the Canadian Jazz Quartet and programming music in various Toronto venues including Quotes Restaurant (2009-2012), Kama Restaurant (2012-2015) and the Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Hotel. She also handled communications for Toronto Radio Station JAZZ.FM91.

She also was an important organizer for the Sports Media Canada Awards, an annual function begun by Toronto Sun sports editor George Gross and CBC broadcaster Don Goodwin.

There will not be any service. The family asks that donations be made to the Red Cross.