Doreen’s flag is at half-mast to celebrate her incredible life where she contributed so much to making Canada a better place.
Born in Vancouver at Grace Hospital, Doreen grew up on Sea Island. She married Peter Turecki in 1950 and they moved to Tsawwassen where she helped start the first kindergarten that her children attended.
Doreen’s Level 9 piano proved its worth when she was hired as the music teacher in a Richmond school. She went on to teach not only elementary and high school but also taught student teachers at SFU. She met Jack Braverman and he married her in 1966 even though she had three kids and a crazy cat.
In 1975 she started The Flag Shop Vancouver and built the business into a national franchise while still finding time for her family and volunteering with many business, community and political organizations. Doreen attained her MBA in 1983.
Doreen served on several boards including Co-Chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade, Director of Vancity Credit Union and was a woman pioneer on the national boards of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Manufacturing Association and the Royal Canadian Mint. She received the Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
Politics was a passion for Doreen. She was the first woman president of the BC Liberal Party in 1975. She was a driving force in civic, provincial and federal campaigns and was still actively campaigning for her favourite candidates in her 90th year.
Doreen’s beloved husband, Jack, passed away in 2016. Predeceased by her brother Tom Montgomery (Georgina), she is missed greatly by her family - brother Glenn Walsh (Diane), sons Bill Turecki (Catherine), Bob Turecki (Hong) and daughters Laura Hansen (Colin) and Susan Braverman (Wade). She dearly loved her grandchildren - Ross, Samantha, Marten, Aaron, Rachel, Mackenzie and Alexandra and her great-grandchildren, Sofia and Kai, who knew her as GG.
Donations can be made to Coast Mental Health or the YWCA.
A celebration of life will take place October 26 from 4pm – 6pm at Royal Vancouver Yacht Club.