A former Abbotsford city councillor died on Feb. 7 at the age of 71.
Wendy Lee was born in Abbotsford at MSA Hospital – then known as the Cottage Hospital – on Jan. 3, 1950.
She grew up in Abbotsford, graduating from Abbotsford Senior Secondary School in 1968, where she earned a medal for the best French student in the province.
Lee graduated from the University of B.C. in 1972 with a bachelor of arts in political science. She eventually went onto earn her master’s in business leadership.
She married Brian Lee and they raised four daughters in Abbotsford, where she served as a city councillor both before and after its amalgamation with Matsqui in 1995.
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After Lee’s family was grown, she moved to Vancouver to pursue a varied and accomplished career. She held positions with the United Way and Crofton House School, but the highlight of her career was the years she spent as the executive director of the B.C. Superintendents of Schools.
Upon her retirement, Lee then spent 18 months as a volunteer in Jamaica with Cuso International.
Upon her return, she found retirement didn’t suit her, and she took on contract positions with Elections BC, Elections Canada, the town of Gibson’s Landing and the shishalh Nation (Sechelt First Nation).
Lee was passionate about sports and fitness her entire life. She volunteered for the BC Games and Canada Games. But the highlight was her volunteer work as a French-speaking driver for the 2010 Olympics.
In 2017, Lee put her life in storage, packed up her motorhome, and hit the road. For eight months, she travelled through the United States, eventually returning to Canada, reconnecting with relatives in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Donations to the Abbotsford branch of the SPCA at spca.bc.ca are being encouraged in lieu of flowers.
Condolences can be sent to the family by email at wordsforwendy@gmail.com.