News
In Memoriam - Jane Goodliffe
Jun 5, 2023
IN MEMORIAM - JANE GOODLIFFE - 1951 TO 2023
It is with deep sadness that the Canadian Pony Club shares news of the passing on June 5th of former National Chair and lifelong Pony Club supporter Jane Goodliffe, following a brief battle with cancer. We know you join us in extending heartfelt sympathies to her family, as well as to her friends and coworkers at all levels of the organization.
Born February 17, 1951 in Cheltenham, England, Jane and her entrepreneur husband Edward immigrated to Canada in 1975. A teacher by trade, Jane put those skills and her heart for children to use when she, her daughter Morwenna and son Robert, joined the Pembina River Pony Club in 1994. She began as a, in her words, “typical Pony Club mom, filling in where needed, holding cranky ponies, running Quiz tables…etc.”, but she went on over the span of her almost 30 years of service to hold positions at Branch, Regional and National levels of the organization. Those roles included a decades-long tenure as ADC, then DC of Pembina River Pony Club in the Alberta North Region, and various Regional Roles including Games Chair, Regional Vice-Chair, and Visiting Commissioner. Jane’s passion was with PPGs and her beloved ANR families, and she was a tireless, strong promoter and well known fixture at International Mounted Games Exchanges, and National Prince Phillip Games competitions. She was boastingly proud to see her granddaughter join Pony Club, and her daughter carries on the legacy and example of Jane’s commitment to CPC and its values with her continued involvement.
In 2013, Jane was honored with the National Chairs award recognizing exemplary service to the organization, and she received her 25 year volunteer pin in 2019. Regardless at what level she was serving, Jane was always among the first to roll up her sleeves and do whatever needed to be done. She had no use for the words “that’s not my job”.
A National Director for Alberta North Region on the CPC Board of Directors from 2008 to 2023, Jane’s time in this role was interrupted only from 2018 – 2021 when she served as National Chair (following a 2 year tenure as Vice Chair). At the National level, Jane also served as National Chair for Disciplines and Equestrian Canada Liaison from 2008 – 2017. During her time as National Chair, Jane also represented Canada as a founding signatory on the charter of the newly formed Pony Club International Alliance, a group of international Pony Club countries formed to strengthen and improve the Pony Club program around the world. Jane continued to be Canada’s representative to the PCIA until the time of her passing.
During Jane’s term as National Chair, she and the Board navigated uncharted territory in the form of COVID, and a series of rules and guideline changes affecting all National Sport Organizations and Not-For-Profits. She faced these challenges as she did everything, including her own illness – with grace, fortitude, a very British stiff upper lip and a “we will never surrender” attitude. A good friend described Jane with these words – “She was a fine person, and exemplified everything Pony Club stands for”. He was not wrong. Our organization has lost a beloved supporter and dedicated worker, and we have all lost a “fine person” and a good friend.