RANKIN, Linda 1946 – 2018
In hospital in Ottawa, Ontario on April 3rd

Linda was born in Foam Lake, Saskatchewan on June 16th, 1946 and pre-deceased by her parents Cliff and Isabel (née Deacon) Rankin. Cliff’s work in municipal affairs took the family to Regina in 1955; Linda attended Central Collegiate Institute and graduated from the University of Regina, where her mother taught English. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology in hand, Linda headed to Toronto and ultimately Ottawa. Although she lived in the nation’s capital for more than 40 years, except for a brief time in Winnipeg, Linda always described herself as ‘just a prairie girl.’

In her mid-30s Linda became the most senior female executive in Canadian telecommunications. She later won a Gemini Award while at Telesat Canada for ground-breaking work in high definition television, received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Canadian Satellite Users Association, developed and became the first president of the Women’s Television Network (now ‘W’), and was a founding partner and president of the Green Channel (which merged with ecology.com). In recognition of her prominent career, the University of Regina presented Linda with their Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004 and an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree in 2013. Along with her professional accomplishments, Linda’s charitable and community contribution was significant, such as her service on national healthcare boards, support of entrepreneurial women in war-torn Bosnia, and countless volunteer hours that furthered causes she cared deeply about, particularly women’s health and the environment.

In her own words Linda ‘loved to work’, whether it was in the boardroom or wielding a hammer and building a house from the ground up, but when asked about her legacy and what she most valued Linda focused instead on the rewards of mentoring other women – many of whom owe their successful careers to Linda, her passion for all aspects of backyard and allotment gardening, the sheer joy she got from dogs, books, art, music, dinner parties, and road trips, and most importantly her family and friends. Linda will be forever loved and missed by her adoring husband of 23 years, Guy Houdin, and the Houdin family in France who gave her many happy hours – especially sons Jon and Alex, by her three cherished brothers and the wives she considered sisters – Stuart Rankin and Johanne L’Heureux (London), Wayne Rankin and Terry Rutherford (Sarnia), and Doug and Coleen Rankin (Regina), by her beloved and generous cousin Cathy Deacon, by her treasured nieces and nephews and their families - Adam, Amy, Benjamin, Carter-Ethan, Jennifer, Megan, and Steven, and by the numerous, thankful friends from all walks of her life.

Those who crossed her path were drawn to Linda’s warmth, adventurous spirit, grace, empathy, determination, and to her positive, big-picture, nothing-is-impossible outlook on life; and she never shied away from the risk of controversy, criticism or failure. All these traits served her, and those around her, well as she won the battle with cancer in her 40s and as she dealt during the last three decades with multiple health issues resulting from earlier cancer treatments. The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and other medical staff who provided Linda with such excellent care and support over the years, most recently those at the Ottawa Heart Institute, Alive to Strive Kidney Fitness Project, and ICU unit at the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus. We would also like to remind everyone who knew and loved Linda of the simple ‘code’ she lived by after her first near-death experience: Eat lunch only with those you want to spend time with, work with people you like, and do things that give you pleasure.

A memorial for Linda, the life and deeds of an optimistic woman, will be held at Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, on Saturday, July 14 at 2 p.m. Those wishing to honour Linda are asked to register for organ donation and consider a gift to unitedwayottawa.ca, ottawaheart.ca, ohfoundation.ca, or your local SPCA.