Whenever a class reunion was coming up, Nadine LEVIN’64 delighted in choosing and wrapping gifts for everyone. That was Nadine (1945–2024), her friends agree: fun, caring and conscientious.
But Nadine’s giving nature wasn’t confined to her personal life. Via her career in the federal civil service, she gave a better future to all Canadians. For example, as a senior policy officer, Nadine had a seminal role in developing compliance and enforcement policies for the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and pollution prevention provisions for the federal Fisheries Act.
Usually civil servants labour behind the scenes, uncredited. However, Nadine’s accomplishments were so significant that in 2021 she won Canada’s Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.
Asked to describe Nadine in one word, Shelley VARLEY Tidy’64 says, “Selfless! Before our last class reunion, when Nadine was widowed and dealing with serious illness, she still sent gifts for all 20 of us who attended.”
“Vibrant,” declares Laurie LAMBE Wallace’64. “Nadine’s energy served her in good stead in her career, and in giving her all at school and throughout her life to friends and family.”
“The school motto, ‘Keep Well the Road,’ was the beacon that inspired me—you should always try to strive beyond what you think you are capable of, always try your best
and be kind to one another.”
Shelley and Laurie, who nominated Nadine for the Allison Roach Alumna Award, credit Branksome with nurturing Nadine’s confidence—a sentiment Nadine echoed in her acceptance message at Reunion 2024 in June (Nadine passed just a few months later, in November).
“The school motto, ‘Keep Well the Road,’ was the beacon that inspired me—you should always try to strive beyond what you think you are capable of, always try your best and be kind to one another,” she said.
For Dr. Frances SHEPHERD’64, Nadine’s unfailing kindness in the face of adversity showed outstanding character. Not only did Nadine lovingly care for two family members with health challenges, her deep compassion extended to others. Frances recalls Nadine regularly visiting a former nanny in an elder-care facility, “always looking out for ‘Nursie,’ as we called her, making sure she was properly cared for.”
Nadine retired from government in 2007—but not from giving. She stepped up her already active volunteer work to include painting sets for community theatre groups, joining the board of directors of Ottawa’s Centre Pauline-Charron for francophones over age 50, and helping organize the 100th anniversary celebration for the city’s Overbrook neighbourhood.
All of which came as no surprise to her friends. “Nadine’s focus was always on humanity, on caring,” says Frances.
No surprise, either, that sharp-eyed Branksome Hall Principal Edith Read spotted the future alum award-winner’s capable, responsible nature early on. As Frances relates, Nadine’s mom had just brought the five-year-old in for a kindergarten-placement interview. The ever-insightful Miss Read exclaimed, “Kindergarten?! This child belongs in grade one!”
