Tracy Penner passed away at her home in Vancouver on March 17, 2015 following a brief battle with brain cancer. Born in Vancouver in 1957, she was well known for her artistic endeavours, both professionally and at home. She loved to garden, decorate and design, cook, travel, paint, sing and support charities.

An alumna of UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Tracy worked as a LEED accredited landscape architect, with the goal of creating beautiful environments for communities to thrive in. She was particularly interested in native plants, and developing gardens and parks that support sustainability and social and community development. She was nominated for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for her work with Grandview Elementary School and received the BCLNA Environmental Stewardship Award.

Tracy was a pillar of her family. She was a kind and compassionate wife to Sam Shamash and mother of Ariel, Samantha, Olivia and Adam Shamash. She was devoted to her parents Edna and Tony Penner, and was a loving sister to Bryan and Dale. Tracy will be missed by her family, and by her friends and community. Her strength, grace and beauty will never be forgotten.

In memory of Tracy, the Tracy Penner Memorial Scholarship in Landscape Architecture has been established by the Shamash family and friends. It will be awarded annually to a first year student in landscape architecture in UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

In honour of the values that guided Tracy’s work, your gift will support students with a strong commitment to sustainable design principles who intend to expand on these principles through their studies.