I met Mateja on a UBC outdoor club rock climbing trip, we met up one morning and drove down to Smith Rock, Oregon in the middle of winter and we quickly became close, laughing a lot and immediately sharing so much about ourselves, Mateja made it easy to open up because what I shared was always met with compassion and understanding. Mateja, our new friends and I climbed outside in the cold all weekend and she instilled confidence in me to climb harder things than I knew I could. Throughout the years following that trip, a friendship would grow where we were the first to tell each other whenever anything exciting happened to us. I remember the day she got into UBC for her masters and we screamed of joy on FaceTime, giggling like crazy. Mateja was fun-loving, strong willed and unstoppable. She was resilient, strong and gentle with a beautiful soul and kind spirit. I’ll forever carry her memory and lessons she taught me in my heart throughout my life.

Our daughter Emmy became friends with Mateja during their summers together at Camp Kitchikewana. They were campers and then counselors together. Mateja was a joyful soul, and Emmy and she became dear friends. We will always remember spending time with Mateja, Catherine, and Jonathan at the farma. And we remember fondly the summer Mateja traveled with us to Disney World. Filled with laughter, Mateja was a bright, beautiful spirit, gone too soon. Mateja will stay in our hearts forever.

I taught Mateja in two courses in the Biomechanics and Medical Devices option - Orthopaedic Biomechanics and the BMD Seminar course. She was a delight to teach - always thoughtful, engaged, curious, and questioning. My deepest condolences to all her friends and family.