Ross Findlater
Ross died unexpectedly this week, surrounded by his loving family in person and by phone.
Ross was born in Hamilton, Ontario and worked as a social worker with children and families coping with psychiatric disorders. He and his wife Sue and young family moved to the Yukon in 1977, where he worked in several leadership roles within the Department of Health & Social Services.
He also served as the Executive Director of the Yukon Family Services Association for many years.
One of his passions was community involvement. Ross affected many Yukon lives by collaborating in the development of the United Way, the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, the Teen Parent Centre, the Yukon Child Development Centre and other services to strengthen our community and the ways we care.
Ross was fortunate to enjoy many happy years in retirement, volunteering his time with the Whitehorse Food bank and the national boards of the United Way and Canadian Mental Health Association. He and Sue were also privileged to enjoy travel to many different countries. Lively family games were also a joy throughout his life.
Many thanks to the frontline health team at Whitehorse General Hospital for their compassionate and respectful support during his passing.
All are welcome to a grief and gratitude gathering on Sunday, October 22, at 2pm at Heritage North Funeral Home, 1101 Centennial St. in Whitehorse. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Whitehorse Food Bank or United Way.
Nancy Findlater Cutway
Ross was always my protective, loving, teasing big brother. I helped him by distributing questionnaires to my high school classmates for his psych or sociology course at McMaster. He helped me by driving my husband Steve and me from our wedding reception to our hotel. He’s just always been there. I shall miss him terribly, but because he’s been such a part of my life, he’ll still be with me. Love ya, Ross.
Fred Smith
Mary Lou and I are saddened to learn of Ross’s sudden passing. He was such a force for positive change in our community across the years. We would like to express our sincere condolences to all of the family.
Stella Martin
Dear Sue and family, so sorry for your loss. Ross was a wonderful man…our paths crossed on many levels. Condolences and prayers from Stella and the Mooney family.
Alla Blysak
Heartfelt condolences to his wife and family. He was a good man to work with. Very kind and caring.
F.Claude Gosselin
To Amanda and all your family, I want to share my sincere condolences and my gratitude for the the great gift and testimony of your father Ross into my life! His wisdom combined to his compassion are a model of humankind, real image of God among us. He had this capacity to connect words with actions, justice with dialogue, knowledge with comprehension, charity with sharing. I was so impressed that he could talk as much to a prime minister as a colleague and to meet the poorest as a brother, the both based on a common dignity. I will remember him as a model of humanity and eternal source of inspiration into my own efforts to build a world of PEACE, JUSTICE and LOVE. May the Risen Christ keeps Ross’ Love alive within us for ever! My prayers and friendship are with you!
Bill Klassen
Dear Sue and family:
I am saddened to learn of Ross’ departure. I worked with Ross in Health and Human Resources (as it was then known) where he was the Director of Family and Children’s Services. He cared deeply and genuinely for Yukon families and was mainly responsible for bringing forward modern child protection legislation in the early 1980s. He also fully supported and cared about staff of Family and Children’s Services, both in Whitehorse and in the communities. I remember and still appreciate his concern, empathy and support when my own family was going through a stressful period.
I pray you will find comfort in the memory of the good Ross accomplished in Whitehorse and the larger Yukon community.
Georgia Greetham
My condolences to the family. I worked for the United Way, and Ross was my mentor. Ross was such a sweet, caring, smart, helpful, thoughtful, kind person. He will be missed in the community. My thoughts are with his friends and family.