With great sadness we must share the news that Mary Tainsh passed away on Feb 21, after suffering a long battle with chronic pain. She was well known to many NSHikers having joined as young woman in 1971. She embraced the outdoors and with her partner, Lada, hiked, canoed, backpacked, cycled and skied most of this province in her lifetime. After their son, Ian was born, it wasn't too long before he was eagerly joining them on their adventures.

It was her strong belief in the Club's importance in outdoor recreation, that caused Mary to work very hard, volunteering for many positions on the Executive and taking an active role in many projects in the Club over the years. As trip coordinator, Mary was always researching new hike ideas, like Whyte Lake and Paton Lookout which are now regular trips on the schedule. Nothing seemed to be beyond her enthusiastic participation, an icy lake swim to name one.

As an advocate for the backcountry, Mary was known to fire off letters to “Parks”, or a MP or two whenever she saw the need for improvements in the backcountry.

She will be dearly missed for her sunny disposition and leadership strengths as she mentored many a hiker to become an expert trip leader. Always well prepared with maps, ropes, and a compass dangling from her neck, she was supportive to even the slowest of hikers on her trips. Some of us may have been lucky enough to be on her backpacking trips when after returning to the cars, she would pull cold beers from a cooler for all to enjoy.

Mary loved the beauty and peace of the wilderness. That was where she was truly happy. It was her request that there be no service of remembrance.

The NSH Executive