Ellen Dixson 2008 -2010
Ellen has been involved in so many different aspects of making our community a better place to be, on a friend level, UCFV level, Mission level and the planet. When I think of Ellen I think of the word “contribution” she is always looking for how she can contribute and not for what she can take away from a situation. She has this wonderful ability to see things from many different perspectives and to be able to share that with friends, coworkers, and students in a nonthreatening way. It’s a bit like she is opening the curtains for folks to be able to see just a little bit farther.Ellen has made an impact in the women’s movement and was directly involved with women’s shelters and transitions. She has been involved with people with disabilities for many years, and is a strong believer in the stewardship for our planet. She has been involved with issues regarding poverty in our communities and in third world countries. She has been involved in the Glen Valley Organic Farm Cooperative, the Mission Market (name?) She is concerned about where things come from, how they get to us and how ethical the systems are that bring us the necessities and luxuries of our lives. She doesn’t just talk the talk, she takes actions – she contributes.
I love Ellen for her sense of humour, her ability to be a wonderful friend, a supportive co-worker, and for her rather larger than human heart. She has been known to bring bags of groceries to students that were in need, visit students at the hospital that desperately needed to see someone who cared and she was able to “tell it like it is” when doing that was really tough. She amazes me with her strength. She also amazes me with her insight and her ability to show her own vulnerabilities. There seems to be that consistent thread through her life to better the community and to better herself. I think Maslow would be impressed on how consistently Ellen works towards what he calls self-actualization. I think that Ellen will continue to work with what she calls her “monkey-mind” as she works towards the Buddha inside.
Ellen has spent most of her life working in a culture where belief in the collective and moving forward through consensus was fundamental. This has posed an interesting phenomenon since she has spent the last ten years of her working life in a strongly hierarchical organization. Although there was some friction along the way, oddly enough she often was able to carry out her duties sticking closely to her beliefs. In fact, I would say that Ellen might even be considered “bicultural” in this sense. She taught us many things along the way but she also learned some important things too. I remember how hard the DS department worked with Ellen to convince her that keeping files was a good idea. I think we – Ellen too, has grown and benefited from her being in our lives.
Ellen also loves potting but may not be able to get back to that due to health issues. She loves animals, tia chi, gardening and long nature walks. She loves to tickle the ivories of her piano and beat her drum like there is no tomorrow. She loves being with people and helping out for a cause. In fact, she has started “knitting for a cause” with a group that knits as a form of lobbying.
She loves to travel and would love to find someone willing to be a travel partner to Cuba one day. Ellen and I have traveled together many times, most notably to New York where we went to a conference and then stayed in Manhattan for a few days. Ellen was adventurous and fun and thoughtful. I can’t imagine a better travel partner.
Ellen is loving, sensitive, gentle, wise, tenacious, tough, and hard working. She is active in thought, word and action. I will miss having her at work but am so pleased to have her in my life!
Alyson Seale Access Advisability Resource Centre University College of the Fraser Valley