Capt. Jenn Casey, 35, on May 17, in Kamloops. Originally from Halifax, Casey was hired right out of the University of King’s College Journalism program in 2009 as a producer and lineup editor at Rogers’ News 95.7 (CJNI-FM). After four years there, she went on to work briefly as a reporter and anchor at Quinte Broadcasting’s stations in Belleville, ON before joining the Canadian Armed Forces as a public affairs officer in 2014. She had been with the Snowbirds since late 2018. Flying with the Snowbirds as part of Operation Inspiration, a cross-country tour aimed at boosting the spirits of Canadians while they shelter-in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic, Casey’s family said in a statement that she died while “supporting an important mission that seemed to be designed for her.” Read one of the more personal tributes to Casey, penned by former News 95.7 colleague Meghan Groff, here.
Monique Mercure, 89, on May 17, of throat cancer. Over her six-decade career, Mercure starred in over 100 productions spanning film, TV and stage. She trained both in Paris at l’École Jacques-Lecoq and in Montreal at the Actor’s Studio, going on to star in at least 30 feature films, including Jean Beaudin’s J.A. Martin photographe, which earned her the award for Best Actress at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival and the Canadian Film Awards that year. She also starred in David Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch, which earned her a Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress (1992). She later won a Best Supporting Actress honour in 1999 for her role in Conquest. Mercure was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1977 and promoted to Companion in 1994. She received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, among other accolades.
Ken McKissock, 72, on May 7 of cancer. Born in Ontario, McKissock moved to Vancouver and worked in the music industry before going on to a career in broadcast sales. McKissock worked at BCTV (now Global BC) where he was a salesman and sales manager, in addition to CFUN Vancouver. He went on to found advertising agency, AIM Communications, in 1992.
