Kathleen Grace Collis

COLLIS, KATHLEEN (Kay) GRACE

Born October 1, in Regina, Saskatchewan, and passed away peacefully on Feb 23, 2023 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. Kay is survived by her loving partner of 53 years, Derek Turton, daughter, Jane Van Sickle (Michael), son, Douglas Van Sickle (Darleen), grandchildren Rebecca, Justin, Kyle and Max, great grandchildren, Taylen and Brantley, and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by sister, Betty Fallis and brother Arthur Collis.

In her early years, Kay’s family moved from Regina to Victoria. A few years after her graduation from Victoria High School, she married Gerry Van Sickle, and they travelled extensively across Canada, from coast to coast, lived in England and explored Europe. After several years, Kay returned to Victoria as a single parent with two young children. At that point, she chose to advance her education, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (visual arts and psychology) 1970 (UVic), a Master of Arts 1980 (Goddard College), and a PhD 1995 (Saybrook), which specialized in schizophrenia and multiple personality disorders.

Kay’s career was exciting and groundbreaking as a pioneer in art therapy. She was invited to develop an art program at the Victoria Mental Health Centre and coordinated art therapy programs for the Capital Regional District as well as an art therapy program for the University of Western Ontario. As the only Canadian, she was invited to the founding of the American Art Therapy Association, was a founding member of the BC Art Therapy Association, and the founder of the BC School of Art Therapy. In 2008, Kay received the YWCA "WOMAN OF DISTINCTION AWARD for Lifetime Achievement" for pioneering art therapy in BC and across Canada.

Kay was a practicing psychologist, phenomenologist, and art therapist as well as a mother, friend, artist, teacher, writer, supervisor and lecturer across North America. She was a lover of art and an active participant in Victoria’s fine arts community. She loved painting, opera, dance, and Jazzercise. Over the years, Kay and Derek enjoyed many treasured visits to England, Scotland, and France, where she had her breakthrough in painting. In retirement, Kay was busier than ever, spending countless hours in her studio painting canvases of French and Scottish landscapes, and ruins of Scottish Highland castles. Her favourite places to be, were at home with Derek and the cats, feeding crows on the back porch, sipping a glass of wine with her daughter, Jane, or in her backyard studio which had large windows overlooking a small orchard, a vibrant flower and vegetable garden and towering trees.

An afternoon event in memory of Kay will be held at the University Club at University of Victoria on June 10, 2023 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kathleen G. Collis Art Therapy Scholarship, University of Victoria ( https://www.uvic.ca/givingtouvic/award-background-info/c/k_g_collis.php ) (donorcare@uvic.ca).

Condolences can be left here on Kay’s Tribute Page. No phone calls please.