In loving memory of Catherine Collinson
- Halton BFI
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
It is with great sadness that we pass along the sad news that our beloved leader, Catherine Collinson, passed away on June 10. We will all miss her.
Catherine began volunteering with HBFI in June 2017 as our Event Manager and later stepped into the Co-Chair role in 2021. She often said she initially joined HBFI to gain event planning experience, but after attending the Breastfeeding Level I and II courses with Kathy O’Grady and learning about the science and importance of breastfeeding, she was hooked. The passion she brought to her volunteer work was nothing short of remarkable. Catherine was a strong and dedicated advocate for breastfeeding and led HBFI through some of our most challenging times.
During COVID, when everything came to a halt and many of our volunteers and liaisons had to step back, Catherine stepped up. She led the transition of our professional education courses from in-person to virtual, a model we continue to use today that has allowed us to expand our reach. She kept things moving forward, ensuring that hand expression kits continued to reach new parents in Halton and finding new ways to connect families with support.
Outside of her volunteer work, Catherine was a beautiful, kind, and generous person. If you had the privilege of knowing her, you likely felt her unwavering support. Above all, she was a deeply devoted wife, sister, and mother. Catherine loved her family immensely and was so proud of her two beautiful daughters and her loving husband, Keith. She was a natural mother who would do anything for her family, and their love for her was just as evident. They showed up for her time and again, supporting HBFI events, helping with every detail, sharing their technical skills, capturing beautiful photos, and standing proudly beside her when she received the well-deserved Halton Volunteer Impact Award in 2022.
Catherine showed up fully in every part of her life. She went above and beyond for the things she cared about, and her dedication to her work, her family, and her friends was truly extraordinary. The HBFI Executive is committed to continuing the work Catherine started in her honour and carrying her spirit with us in everything we do.
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