
Sheila Harrison Dunlop, Federation of North Toronto Residents Associations (FoNTRA) steering committee member, Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (FUN) director, and long-time board member and secretary of the South Armour Heights Residents’ Association (SAHRA), passed away in her 73rd year on August 25, 2022, after a short illness.
Sheila was the heart and the soul of SAHRA for over 18 years. She had a vision of a livable neighbourhood and was the driving force behind SAHRA’s efforts on many issues.
Sheila also contributed to many other Resident Associations and their umbrella organizations. She generously shared her time, knowledge, and experience. She was a driving force behind the recent complete overhauls of the FoNTRA and FUN websites, making them an important resource for organization members and the public.
She composed and sent timely eBlasts to update members of FUN, FoNTRA and SAHRA of matters of concern and interest; researched issues and developed responses and positions within the organizations; prepared and made presentations to City bodies and other Resident Associations; and met with developers, City Councillors, builders, etc., to negotiate modifying projects to make them more appropriate to neighbourhoods.
In her neighbourhood, Sheila led the development of annual block parties and acted as Group Captain for Neighbourhood Watch Online. In 2020, she co-organized a daily block music tribute to honour the healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This salute ran each evening for 100 days.
And in the broader community, she volunteered in the Big G Mentoring Program with Big Sisters of Toronto.
In August, just days before her death, Sheila received an honorary scroll from Eglinton-Lawrence MPP Robin Martin to commend her for the continuous and tireless efforts she put into so many organizations over many years.
Sheila’s death leaves a big hole not only in the hearts of those who knew her, but also in the organizations for which she volunteered. FUN, FoNTRA and SAHRA will miss her greatly. A formal obituary follows and can be found online as well. We will keep you informed of further information as it becomes available.
At Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Ontario on Thursday, August 25, 2022, Sheila Kathryn (nee Hodgson) Harrison Dunlop died in her 73rd year. Born January 21, 1950 in Hamilton to Percy William Hodgson and Ruby Doreen Smith. Now reunited with her beloved husband and partner William (Bill) Alexander Dunlop (2016). Survived by Bill’s daughter Paula (Andrew MacEachern) and Nana to their children Bryn and Cade. Sister of the late Jane (2019) ( Dr. John Gregg) of St. Catharines and Corinne (Dr. Douglas Swallow) of Burlington. Aunt of Katie Gregg of Fort Erie. Sheila was raised on the escarpment above Stoney Creek, moving to Hamilton when she started her first job at McMaster University at the time of creation of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the building of the McMaster Medical Centre.
After managing her own business in St. Catharines, she became a Principal and then a Partner with Ernst & Young, Toronto in the Information Technology practise, leaving when she met another partner, Bill Dunlop, in 1988. She subsequently worked for a number of years as an independent IT Project Manager. She retired in 2011 to spend more time with Bill who had developed Parkinson’s. Following his death she was involved a wide range of charitable and community projects. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Sunnybrook Hospital and the Palliative Care Unit. As per Sheila’s wishes, there will be no funeral. In Sheila’s memory, you may wish to give a donation to The Salvation Army or The Sunnybrook Foundation – organizations Sheila supported because of the good work they do.