Ann Audrey Kujundzic

Ann Kujundzic

1929 Dysart Scotland – 2021 Victoria BC.

“ I always preferred the unknown route.” [from her memoir New Ground ]

Ann was an inspiring role model and hero to her family and friends for both humbly living life fully and her lifelong social activism.

She attended Gallatown Elementary School in Dysart, a Merchant Company Girls’ School in Edinburgh, and during WWII, St. Christopher’s, a Quaker co-ed school in Letchworth. In 1948 she met and married the exiled Yugoslav artist, Zeljko Kujundzic in Edinburgh.

They emigrated from Scotland in 1958 with three young children to British Columbia, where they had two more children. She was instrumental in working with Zeljko and others to establish BC’s first rural art school, the Kootenay School of Art, in Nelson in 1960. In 1964 they moved to the Okanagan where they renovated a deconsecrated church in Kelowna. “The Art Centre” was their home, gallery, teaching venue, and boutique. Ann created her own work and collaborated with Zeljko on various projects.

Divorced in 1971, Ann reinvented her life numerous times: setting up rural food co-ops, co-founding a co-op farm near Salmon Arm, and in 1979  trained in Toronto to become a registered massage therapist. She moved back to Vancouver where she practiced for 20 years, and with a few colleagues successfully lobbied the BC government to have massage covered by MSP. She also acted as the agent for George Ryga’s writings, editing his posthumous collection “Summerland”, and studied jazz piano with Kathy Kidd at Langara College.

She spoke publicly in favour of women’s reproductive rights and actively supported a wide range of political and environmental issues. She was actively involved with organizations such as Voice of Women, REACH Medical Clinic, Vancouver East End Food Co-op, Kettle Friendship Society, La Quena, and Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

During her life she traveled to all but two continents, mostly by bus, rail, car or foot, staying in hostels or with friends. She loved to dance whenever she could, and sang in several choirs, including The Trouts and Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir . Ann and Zeljko’s art appeared in the 2020 exhibition, “Modern in the Making: Post-War Craft and Design in British Columbia” at The Vancouver Art Gallery.

At age 80, Ann relocated to Victoria where she joined the Raging Grannies, Daniel Lapp’s Joy of Life choir, and met monthly with a women’s writing group. She was a regular at Hermann’s Jazz club, the Crystal Pool, and several favourite coffee bars.

Ann often said “everyone has a story to tell”, and in 2019 Caitlin Press published her book “ New Ground – A Memoir of Art and Activism in BC’s Interior ” which can be purchased from bookstores.

Diagnosed with heart failure early in 2020, she decided for her last adventure to move into Reynolds Abbeyfield to live independently with 11 other residents . Over time she reluctantly made friends with her walker. In the two weeks before her death she went out for coffee with friends or family a number of times and to Louise Rose’s “Alone Together” at Hermann’s on October 20. For her last six days in palliative care, family and a few friends stayed with her in overlapping shifts at Victoria General Hospital.

The family is profoundly grateful to: Dr. Marie Skinnider for Ann’s last decade of healthcare, her recent Reynolds Abbeyfield home, the daily/weekly Care-aids (especially Lily), the RealFit kinesiologists who kept her moving (even when she didn’t really want to), and the VGH palliative care team.

Ann leaves many close friends and family around the world, including her sister Susie and brother Roland, five children and their spouses: Kate Enewold, Claire Kujundzic, Judy Kujundzic, Andy Kujundzic and Natanis Christensen; grandchildren Willow, Shane, James, Josh, Narisse, Jadzia and Chelan; and great-grandchildren Dante, Niko, Casey, Addi and Laken. She was predeceased by daughter Rosemary (1950), brothers Trevor (1999) and Jervis (2002), and grandson Jake (2005).

Ann’s wish for a “green burial” took place November 4 at Royal Oak Burial Park. She requested that we “have a good party” which is planned for the late spring or early summer of 2022.

In lieu of flowers, Ann requested donations to Doctors Without Borders .