Jorie Adams
27 January, 1948 – 07 February, 2023
After a 5 week battle to survive major brain surgery and a series of chest infections, our dear friend, Marjorie Muriel Adams, gracious colleague, beloved sister, aunt, cousin, and gifted musician, went home to be with the Lord she loves.
Born in Montreal, Quebec she graduated from The Study, then Neuchatel Junior College (Switzerland) and earned a BA Honors French from McGill University. After graduating from McGill, she was a hostess at ManThe Explorer Pavilion at Expo 67, she then was a program coordinator for Centre d’Etudes Industrielles (CEI), Geneva, Switzerland. It was there that she met Canadian marketing professor David Leighton from the University of Western Ontario, who had recently been named Director of the Banff School of Fine Arts. Dr Leighton invited Jorie to work with him, and a life-long career opportunity ensued. Starting as Personal Assistant to the Director, Jorie enjoyed a growing variety of responsibilities as new program areas were launched and BSFA became The Banff Centre. Jorie managed Music Programs, and ended as Director of Operations for Music and Sound Programs. Known for her exceptional integrity, in 1995 the President appointed Jorie to spearhead a campus-wide dialogue to generate a code of ethics “Values and Principles” for campus-wide use.
There were many opportunities over the years to liaise with other arts organizations, both nationally and internationally. A few of those highlights include:
- Sitting on the cultural planning committee for the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
- Establishing links to set up collaborative programs with numerous Canadian, American, British and European music conservatories, academies and music schools.
- Sitting on various provincial and national adjudication committees for artists grants.
Always self-deprecating and humble Jorie attributed all the successes she enjoyed at The Banff Centre to strong teamwork and collaboration, and for that she was nominated for the 2005 Rosza Award for Excellence in Arts Management. Having trained and mentored strong successors, Jorie retired from The Banff Centre in 2008.
A 53-year resident of the Bow Valley, Jorie lived in Banff from November 1970 until November, 1991 when she moved to the welcoming community of Canmore. There she naturally gravitated to the Sugar Pine Quilt Store where she relished being a part time salesperson meeting fellow quilters and once again supporting artists and being part of the store’s educational program and community outreach. She was a member of the Mountain Cabin Quilters Guild since 1998, a dynamic group of women from a wide variety of professional backgrounds who have in common a love of creativity and generosity. She served on the executive of the Guild over the years. Compassion quilts became her passion for those undergoing cancer treatment, and more recently the creation of highly tactile “touch quilts” for dementia patients.
A woman of faith, Jorie dedicated her talents and abilities for the greater good. Between 1994 and 2000, Jorie participated in the Western Canada leadership team of Woman Alive, a national Christian conference-based ministry, and she served on the Board at the national level.
Banff’s Full Gospel Church, which currently includes people from about 18 nations and 24 languages, was her home church since 1972. Over the years she served as pianist and accompanist for various choirs, ensembles, and all services. She was a Board member since 2002, and Board Chair since 2008. During Covid, Jorie enthusiastically participated in in-depth Bible Studies with Precept Ministries via Zoom, whose classmates spanned the country – a life-long learner and always reaching out to others.
Jorie was a natural, kind, thoughtful, gracious mentor who served others and urged them to be the best they could be. She put others first – always. She will be sorely missed.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at Banff’s Full Gospel Church on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. Interment will take place, at a later date, in the cemetery of Holy Trinity Church of Ste. Agathe des Monts, Ste. Agathe, Quebec to be beside her parents.
The service can be accessed by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4037622740?pwd=L1U4T1BWTFhseU9Va2lRQ2VkLzZuZz09
This poem describes our dear Jorie and we hope it will bring you comfort….
Lord, bless this one whose daily living is a gift to You,
Who walks in faith and trusts in You with a whole heart.
Bless this one who gives without counting the cost,
And whose life is an example of Your presence among us.
Bestow upon this loving servant every gift of Your grace
And the abundant blessings of Your favour.
In the Name of Jesus, who also came to serve. Amen.
