Claudine Marcella Wilson
Obituary
Claudine Marcella Wilson (December 16, 1947 – August 4, 2024) – A proud ‘childless cat lady’ of Ottawa (born in Low, Quebec) who dedicated her life to her career and community. Claudine taught advertising at Algonquin College before founding the public relations program in 1984, where she worked for more than 30 years until retirement in 2008. She dedicated her time to creating and updating courses, running an award-winning student PR agency, writing program textbooks and developing an annual charitable campaign (and other fundraising) that raised over $150,000 for local causes during her tenure.
More than just a teacher, she mentored students and graduates for decades. Many would say that Claudine made a positive, lasting, impactful impression on their careers and lives. In her retirement, she continued to support local causes through volunteering and consulting work including the Royal Canadian Legion, where she was also a member and volunteer at Branch 480 in Westboro.
Claudine is survived by her cat George, cousins Judith Wilson and Richard Wilson, and close friends who miss her dearly. She is predeceased by her mother Marie Marcella (Loranger) Wilson, beloved father Ward Wilson and cousin Peter Wilson (Gisèle Ouellet).
A celebration of life for Claudine will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, upstairs at the Westboro Legion, 391 Richmond Road, Ottawa from 4 - 9 p.m. with brief remarks at 6 p.m. Please RSVP below.
Claudine believed in being charitable and gave generously to many causes. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a cause you care about.
Memory wall
Please share a memory of Claudine.
September 5, 2024
Our sympathies go out to Claudine’s relatives and friends.
I first met Claudine at Puzzles and got to know her better after we both retired. We became ‘golf buddies’, playing weekly at Dunderosa, her favourite course, and in winter at Golfomax. Her favourite expression, “For the Love of Chickens” was used frequently during golf games. After golfing we would go to lunch, often at MacDonalds, also one of her favourites. We stayed friends over many years.- at the Legion, sharing books, celebrating birthdays, sharing frustrations and happy times.
Claudine cared about people and stood up for social justice and anti discrimination. She lived her values. Yes, she loved her cats. Even our ‘mulligans for a loonie’ funds went to animal charities. . I know that she loved her work at Algonquin and the part time work she did after retiring and for the Legion 480 and Dominion Command. Whether volunteering or paid, she did her work to her high standards.
She was a good friend to me and others.
Maggie Fietz
I first met Claudine at Puzzles and got to know her better after we both retired. We became ‘golf buddies’, playing weekly at Dunderosa, her favourite course, and in winter at Golfomax. Her favourite expression, “For the Love of Chickens” was used frequently during golf games. After golfing we would go to lunch, often at MacDonalds, also one of her favourites. We stayed friends over many years.- at the Legion, sharing books, celebrating birthdays, sharing frustrations and happy times.
Claudine cared about people and stood up for social justice and anti discrimination. She lived her values. Yes, she loved her cats. Even our ‘mulligans for a loonie’ funds went to animal charities. . I know that she loved her work at Algonquin and the part time work she did after retiring and for the Legion 480 and Dominion Command. Whether volunteering or paid, she did her work to her high standards.
She was a good friend to me and others.
Maggie Fietz
August 31, 2024
One of the many things we remember about Claudine is her loyalty. She was always available to help and offer support when it was needed.
Her words of encouragement, her sense of humour, her love for Alice and Georgie, her support for the Legion's Pool League, and her dedication as leader of the Legion's Public Relations team were only part of who she was during her time with us.
Bob and I raise a glass (or two) to you, Claudine, for being our friend. Until we meet again, we will miss you.
Henrietta & Bob
Her words of encouragement, her sense of humour, her love for Alice and Georgie, her support for the Legion's Pool League, and her dedication as leader of the Legion's Public Relations team were only part of who she was during her time with us.
Bob and I raise a glass (or two) to you, Claudine, for being our friend. Until we meet again, we will miss you.
Henrietta & Bob
August 30, 2024
I was lucky to have taught with Claudine for many years. She was incredibly supportive of her students and her colleagues. I saw such dedication in everything she did. It was such a pleasure to teach with her, and share a chuckle here and there. She will be missed.
August 28, 2024
I met Claudine in 1967 when we were both teachers at Philemon Wright High School in Hull. We became best friends for the next 11 years when I married and we sort of drifted apart. That doesn't mean to say that we could not pick up at anytime and did.
I fondly remember our trips up the valley to Low with a few stops along the way.and spending some awesome time with Ward Claudine's beloved Dad. They even came to visit me when I lived in Niagars Falls. No words can explain the bond we had and I cherish all the memories. God Bless Claudine
I fondly remember our trips up the valley to Low with a few stops along the way.and spending some awesome time with Ward Claudine's beloved Dad. They even came to visit me when I lived in Niagars Falls. No words can explain the bond we had and I cherish all the memories. God Bless Claudine
August 28, 2024
I was also a member of the inaugural Public Relations program at Algonquin College and was lucky enough to have Claudine as my teacher. I was only in the program for 1 year, but in that time, Claudine taught me all of the necessary skills I would need to break into the business and to succeed. She gave everything to her students and to the Program and I thank her for her kindness and generosity. God Bless!
August 27, 2024
Claudine was a quiet trail blazer. I was part of the first cohort of Algonquin's PR program in 1984, at 29 in a time of change, when I went to Ottawa and interviewed with Claudine. Thanks to Claudine and the program, I acquired skills for a new career that took me into provincial and local government, right through to retirement. Claudine gave her everything to the program, to the exclusion of pretty much everything else in her life. There would have been no PR program without Claudia’s fierce advocacy. May she rest in peace.
August 26, 2024
I, too, was a volunteer with CPRS in 1984 when Claudine came calling. Everyone was in support of having a PR Program at Algonquin College. Not everyone was in support of Claudine being the person to run that program. She received more a "we'll see" than unconditional support. Her background was advertising you see, not PR itself.
I became the CPRS representative on the program's Advisory Board - a position I held for over 25 years. Over those years, I saw Claudine in action, at Board meetings, with her students at CPRS events, in the classroom, at the charity events she oversaw and at the Board-student meet-ups at the old Chances R. She was a study in excellence, always determined to make next year even better than this year. .
She grew a program from its infancy to it becoming one of the top two-year diploma programs in Canada. It was through her own vision, hard work, dedication and leadership skills that all 50 of the students who graduated each year found jobs on graduation. Claudine's view of the import of strategic, ethical PR to organizational success is a song held in the hearts of her 1500 or so graduates. Those graduates have changed the face of PR/Communication in Canada, and around the world.
Not many people get to put an idea into action. Not many people get to build an enterprise from the standing start of a start-up. Not many people stay with that enterprise for 30 years and build it better, each and every year.
Claudine did all three. She has a wonderful legacy.
Thank you, Claudine.
I became the CPRS representative on the program's Advisory Board - a position I held for over 25 years. Over those years, I saw Claudine in action, at Board meetings, with her students at CPRS events, in the classroom, at the charity events she oversaw and at the Board-student meet-ups at the old Chances R. She was a study in excellence, always determined to make next year even better than this year. .
She grew a program from its infancy to it becoming one of the top two-year diploma programs in Canada. It was through her own vision, hard work, dedication and leadership skills that all 50 of the students who graduated each year found jobs on graduation. Claudine's view of the import of strategic, ethical PR to organizational success is a song held in the hearts of her 1500 or so graduates. Those graduates have changed the face of PR/Communication in Canada, and around the world.
Not many people get to put an idea into action. Not many people get to build an enterprise from the standing start of a start-up. Not many people stay with that enterprise for 30 years and build it better, each and every year.
Claudine did all three. She has a wonderful legacy.
Thank you, Claudine.
August 26, 2024
Claudine and I first met around the time that she founded the PR program at Algonquin. I was serving as a volunteer member of the CPRS Ottawa-Gatineau board of directors. Being the excellent communicator she was, Claudine wanted the CPRS Consultants' Council to be aware of the student PR agency she was developing. There was some angst on the part of some of the consultants, who worried that the agency was going to steal business from them. Claudine patiently stuck to her message and ultimately convinced the doubters that the agency would be an important learning tool for her students and not harm anyone's business. Several decades later, CPRS recognized Claudine's vision, determination and dedication by making her a Life Member of CPRS. On a more personal note, I had the honor of serving on the Algonquin College PR Advisory Committee while Claudine was still teaching and coordinating the program. It was during this time that I came to recognize how selfless she was when it came to her students - both past and present -- wanting nothing more than to ensure their success. A truly dedicated teacher and mentor. I am not sure that Algonquin College knew how fortunate they were to have her on staff, but her students, who are what mattered to her, knew without question.
August 26, 2024
I still remember meeting Claudine in the summer of 1984, two years after the death of my mother. I immediately knew two things: I had found a lifelong friend and mentor, and I had found a career. I joined the faculty in the PR program soon after graduating, and was blessed to be her teaching collaborator for close to 15 years. I shared her passion for PR and the place our program was carving out in the community, and loved all of our alumni events (Birdies and Buds, anyone?). I credit Claudine for the high standards and integrity with which I work my craft, and will miss her every day. Just knowing she was in the world was a source of comfort. Now, the best I can do, is do her proud - all of us are her legacy.
August 26, 2024
Claudine held us all to the highest standards. She was an incredible teacher who gave so much of herself. I'll never know what she saw in me, but I think she saw something in all her students. If you were willing to put in the time to try, she would meet you where you were and give you motivation, guidance and all of her enthusiasm. Our friendship grew after my graduation, and I'll never forget how caring and kind she was with everyone around her. She was funny, so smart and incredibly hard-working - a role model and mentor in so many different ways. I'm so lucky to have had her in my life.
August 25, 2024
I got to know Claudine when I joined Westboro Legion. Claudine was my mentor when it came to me learning to play pool. Claudine and I were on the Westboro Legions pool league for about 10 years. Claudine was always patience and encouraging while teaching me to play pool. I miss her very much. Claudine was a wonderful person and will be missed.
August 25, 2024
Claudine’s patience and confidence in her students was immeasurable. Every time I use the KISS formula Claudine is around me . She loved watching all of us during Hell Week! Thank you Claudine ! RIP Brenda
August 24, 2024
Condolences to family and friends. So pleased to hear of Claudine’s success and influence in her professional and personal life.
Celebration of Life
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