Beloved sister and daughter, loyal friend and colleague, committed
journalist.
Alison Downie was one of a
kind; a meticulous and hard-core newshound and a kind,
compassionate and generous mentor and friend.
Alison died
Saturday, March 20, 2021, after a long fight against
cancer.
The Downie family arrived in
Canada in 1966 from Dundee, Scotland.
The family settled in
Kitchener (mom Helen, dad Alistair, Alison, brother Grant and brother Alistair
Jr.), with the kids growing up playing soccer, ringette and hockey. Their
father coached the kids in all of these sports.
Alison excelled, playing
all-star soccer and ringette and winning several provincial competitions.
With early sights on a
career in journalism, she attended Conestoga College and launched her life-long
career with a cub reporter position in Orangeville,
Ont.
She moved on to the
Sentinel-Review in Woodstock, where she rose through the ranks from reporter to
city editor to managing editor.
Alison spent
years at the Ottawa and Toronto Sun newspapers as city editor and as the
readers’ advocate before joining the CBC as an editor on the digital news copy desk.
She was regarded as a
dedicated, thoughtful editor with exacting standards who nurtured young
reporters, challenged veteran ones and was a respected mentor to her colleagues.
More than this, Alison was a
loyal and committed sister and friend who enjoyed long conversations and good
laughs.
Alison loved her cats, loved
her Pepsi, and loved good food and quiet time.
She was also passionate
about live music and was THE #1 Bruce Springsteen fan. Whether seeing him on
stage or listening to his albums, Alison knew all the music and probably knew
more facts about Springsteen than The Boss knew about himself.
Alison leaves behind her
beloved brother Alistair and sister-in-law Connie.
We will all miss her dearly.
