Dorothy Francis, a prominent Canadian artist, has died at the age of 93.
Dorothy was born in Dinsmore, Saskatchewan in 1923. It was here that she first became fascinated with the life-style of Canadian natives, her first contact being with the local Cree population as they shopped her father?s general store. This early association became a life-long passion, resulting in more than 500 images of Canada’s indigenous peoples.
In 1973, Francis and her husband Hal decided to move to Qualicum Beach.
Soon after the move Dorothy was plagued by a recurring back problem, requiring several surgeries and laying her up for a full year. Eventually her spine was fused and she began the road to recovery.
She was commissioned by the White House to paint an Easter Egg that now rests in the Smithsonian Institute and her images were published by Unicef to be sold as art cards in order to help impoverished children around the world.
A wing of the Old School House Gallery in Qualicum Beach was renamed for Dorothy as a result of her helping raising significant amounts of money for them through auctions of her work.
Hal died in 1996, taking most of Francis’ motivation to paint with him. She moved to Vancouver’s False Creek in 2006 to be closer to her children.
Dorothy died at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver on April 25, surrounded by all who meant the most to her.
More of Francis’ works can be viewed at www.dorothyfrancis.ca.
— Submitted by Tim Francis