Anne Campbell (nee King)

Anne Campbell, mother, sister, friend, writer and longtime arts and cultural heritage advocate passed away peacefully on October 20, 2022 in the Palliative Care Unit, Pasqua Hospital, Regina, Saskatchewan, surrounded by the love of her family.

Anne was born into the pine scent of Paddockwood, in northern Saskatchewan. She was the eldest of seven siblings. She grew up in Saskatoon and the town of Hanley where she was engaged and captivated by music, theatre, ice skating and her relationships with siblings and cousins. As a teenager she moved to Regina where she met, married and raised three children with Jock Campbell. Anne was deeply devoted to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, and large extended family. She loved to host family gatherings and was instrumental in organizing extended family reunions. She felt immense gratitude for her many friends and family, all of whom gathered round her in support – in person, on paper, and on-line, during her cancer journey.

Anne was an award winning writer of poetry and prose, including her 2017 selected work The Fabric of Day, a co-editor of Regina Secret Spaces: Life and Lore of Local Geography, and Biblio Files: A History of the Regina Public Library. She was a member of provincial and national writing organizations and a charter member of the Writers Guild of Alberta and the Canadian Creative Nonfiction Collective Society. She studied at the Regina Conservatory, University of Regina (U of R). She loved her participation in the writers' colonies at the old Fort San, St. Peter's Abbey (Muenster), Emma Lake, and Banff. 

Anne has been an inspiration to many throughout her lifetime. Her lively intelligence, curiosity, great sense of humour and a sharp sense of the absurd was always coupled with dignity, kindness, and compassion. She was a voracious reader and always ready for a “discussion”. Anne's life was informed by a deep awareness of the central importance and healing power of humour, nature, the arts, music, literacy and cultural heritage, in creating a healthy humanity.   

Anne's commitment to the arts was shown in her employment at the Mackenzie Art Gallery (Regina), the Glenbow Museum (Calgary), and the Regina Public Library where she managed community services. She also volunteered with provincial and national cultural organizations in the visual arts, music, literacy, and the historic built environment. In retirement Anne was coordinator of Ecumenism at (RC) Archdiocese of Regina, and later a Research Fellow at the U of R's Canadian Plains Research Centre.  

Anne is survived by her loving children Joseph Campbell, Jacqueline Campbell (Bob McFadden), and Jill Rodgers (Ken); her treasured grandchildren, Alden Adair (Trenna Keating), Thomas Adair (Sabrina) and great-granddaughters River and Olivia, Sarah Adair (Luke Buchan), Brent Rodgers (Karman So), and Jocelyn Rodgers (Nolan Proctor). Anne is also survived by her loving and loved siblings, sister Leona King, brothers Ray King (Francine Harvey) and Rick King (Barb), sisters in-law Katherine King and Marilyn King and her many and much loved nieces, nephews and cousins. Anne was predeceased by brother Ron King 2022, brother Ken King 2020, sister Patricia King 1998, parents Joseph King 1982 and Rose King 2006, former husband John (Jock) Campbell 2021, and later partner Adam Szladow 2014.

Nature... she stays close, keeping this writer company,

sends the earth, and the sky, even sends the stars at night,

and they warm us, those long ago cousins,

as she makes ready    our place of rest

                                                                                                The Sound of Blue by Anne Campbell

We thank the staff of the Palliative Care Unit, Pasqua Hospital and the Allan Blair Cancer Centre for their compassionate care and support.

An interment was held at the Lumsden Cemetery. A Celebration of Anne's life is planned for May 17, 2023 at the Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan.

If desired, a donation in Anne's memory may be made to the Mackenzie Art Gallery, the Regina Floral Conservatory (reginafloralconservatory.ca), the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, or a charity of your choice.