Obituary of Susan Anne Agnes Bond

Susan Anne Agnes Bond July 25, 1953 - June 30, 2018 It is with great sadness and broken hearts that Peter, Heidi, Alan, Mary Ellen, Sarah and Kevin announce the passing - after a brief illness - of Susan on June 30, 2018. Susan was born in Ottawa, Ontario, July 25, 1953. She was the eldest of six children born to Alan and Mary Bond. The family moved and grew first to Kingston, then Deep River, Ontario, next to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, then Brooks, Alberta and finally, in 1970, to Cranbrook, BC. As a young woman Susan studied journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa. She then returned to the East Kootenay's, where in the early 1970's Susan started her career in journalism with the Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Susan would go on to work for the Kimberley Daily Bulletin, the Vancouver Sun, CBC Radio, the Columbia Valley Pioneer and The Portal, a startup newspaper in Kimberley. Susan had an affinity for communicating. She set a standard for information sharing few could replicate. Whether communicating through news articles or, pamphlets, at meetings or in discussion groups, providing map information, addressing outreach programs, or acting as editor - whatever the venue - Susan was a master of communication. In many a context, it wasn't unusual for decision makers to feel more than a little uncomfortable as Susan posed insightful questions born of her meticulous preparation. In the late 1980's after achieving a Graphic Design diploma from Selkirk College Susan started a desktop publishing business: - Desktop Graphics. Her work with the Kimberley Nature Park, both as a volunteer and service provider, was vital to their success. The Kimberley Nature Park Trail Guide is evidence of her graphic work. Susan also edited several books including Bill Robert's book The Best Miners in the World. Hired in 1996 Susan was the first employee of the Rocky Mountain Trench Society, a group of affiliated organizations of hunters, ranchers, naturalists and environmentalists. In 1997, she was one of the first hired by the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program. While working for both organizations Susan was editor and project manager for what many consider to be the bible on grasslands restoration - all three editions of the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Programs Blueprints for Action 2000, 2006 and 2013. A legacy Susan leaves is the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Research Library - used by students from elementary to university as well as field and academic professionals. It is difficult to put a label on Susan's relationship with the natural world. Whether working with flora or fauna as naturalist, conservationist, environmentalist or ecologist Susan was all and none of these things. Susan recognized that ecosystems are not defined so much by the objects they contain as the processes that regulate them. She learned all she could about the flora and fauna, while at the same time, she learned about the regulating processes. Susan was a committed volunteer. Examples of commitments include: Board Director for the Kimberley Credit Union, Winter Games 1980 volunteer, Meadowbrook Community Association member, Book Club organizer and host, Green Party of Canada campaign organizer and Columbia Basin Trust Water Quality Monitoring of Mather (Cherry) Creek. Susan's contributions were often game changing. As a lover of music Susan was a devoted fan of the Cranbrook Symphony Orchestra. Susan's ambition for knowledge impacted all aspects of her life. When with Peter she moved to the West Coast to live on a sailboat for four years - in typical Susan fashion - she took Power Squadron courses in sailing and navigation so she could fully contribute to their sailing adventures. Ultimately, Susan called Wood's Corner home for the rest of her life. There, together with Peter Moody, they built the house and home where they lived for nearly 30 years. Susan is survived by her husband of 30 years Peter Moody; her first husband Ted Robertson; daughter Heidi Long; siblings Alan, Mary Ellen, Sarah and Kevin Bond; and their partners Steve Long, Barbara Bond, Daryl Powell, Narong (Lek) Wongnim and Rosanna Fisher; her nieces and nephews, Jessica (Hazel) Mousley, Nicole Osborne, Stephanie Bond, Laura Wright, Kathryn Bond, Lewis and Georgia Jones and Danica Newham; her grandsons Liam Pellegrino and Josh Long; and great nephew Jacob Osborne and extended family in Canada and England. She was predeceased by her parents Alan and Mary Bond, her brother John "Tucker" Joseph Bond and brother-in-law Barry Jones. There is a Celebration of Susan's Life at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at Centre 64, 64 Deer Park Avenue, Kimberley, BC. Donations to Susan's memory can be made to your choice of: Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society Kimberley Nature Park Main Streams for water monitoring in the Kimberley area The Symphony of the Kootenays Kimberley Public Library Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service. Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com