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Nouvelles
Obituary: Peter Ramsay Nares '68
It is with profound sadness that we share the news that our dear Peter died, on April 5, 2016, his 66th birthday, from an aggressive form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He was surrounded by his loving family during his last hours.
Peter is survived by his devoted partner, Anne; his darling children, Luke (Josée Wilson) and Kelly (Tobias Witteveen); his cherished grandchildren, Felix and Audrey Witteveen; his loving mother, Hazel and sister, Nancy. Peter also leaves behind his nieces and nephew, brothers and sisters-in-law, and many friends.
Peter faced his illness and mortality with courage and honesty. He was truly an inspiration as he welcomed open discussions and full emotional expression regarding both the meaning and the end of life.
Peter moved around a lot as a child and as a young teenager attended
Bishop's College School in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Peter received a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University and later a Bachelor of Social Work from York University.
The repressive environment at boarding school and the sixties counterculture framed the narrative for the rest of his life. Social justice was the concept that would catalyze virtually every big decision he made from high school onwards.
Peter's contribution to social services began in 1974 as a childcare worker. Frustrated by what he experienced in his efforts to provide optimal care, he became convinced that changes needed to be made systemically. This led to Peter's first position in social policy with the Ontario Social Development Council (OSDC). Peter started Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI) in 1986, as a division of OSDC, later evolving into an independent, national non-profit in 1995. Under Peter's leadership, the organization was a vehicle for generating, testing and bringing to scale new and effective ideas to reduce poverty by fostering economic independence. Examples of these include the Self-Employment Benefit Program, enabling disadvantaged individuals to start their own businesses; the Registered Disability Savings Bond, helping safeguard funds for those living with disabilities; and the Federal Task Force on Financial Literacy, supporting a truly inclusive economy in which everyone has the opportunity to save for and invest in their dreams. He also worked alongside other national non-profits to pioneer the asset-building and matched savings movement. This work continues to flourish within the organization which was recently re-named Prosper Canada.
In a statement by Charles Coffey, Officer of the Order of Canada, Peter is described as one who embodies “the essence of enlightened compassionate leadership and has given voice to those who have none... He has set a standard of excellence that will be a lasting legacy.”
In 2008, Peter was awarded a senior fellowship with Ashoka—a global association of leading social entrepreneurs, in recognition of his vision, commitment and innovative solutions to some of society's most pressing challenges.
Peter also had many interests: gardening, hiking, golfing, hockey, football and coaching. From a young age he was drawn to the water and loved to be “near it, on it, or in it.”
Fishing, for Peter, was a treasured time for reflection. Peter believed that it is our responsibility to be informed about the world. He was a voracious reader on many topics, from current events to Russian literature. He also loved music, with a special appreciation of rock music.
One of his regrets in life was passing on the opportunity to attend Woodstock, thinking it would be a “bummer.”
One of Peter's qualities that will be most remembered by all those who knew him was his ability to authentically share himself and encouraging others to do the same He touched the lives of many and improved the lives of many more. He will be deeply missed.
As an expression of sympathy, please consider making a donation in Peter's name to Prosper Canada (formerly SEDI), (www.prospercanada.org).
Globe and Mail obituary
