Janice Elaine "Jan" Chamberlain
Posted Jul 3, 2025 | 5:15 PM
The lights in Owen Sound Harbour are a little dimmer today.
The family of Jan Chamberlain is saddened to share that our lifelong advocate for Civic Pride in Owen Sound, Jan Chamberlain, suddenly and shockingly passed away of leukemia on Canada Day at Brightshores Owen Sound.
Janice Elaine Chamberlain (nee Locking – April 1941) was the wife of the late Dr. George Chamberlain and mother to their four children Mike (Lisa) of Burington, David (Karen) of London, Brian (Donna) of Georgian Bluffs, and the late Sally Hunt (the late Rick) of Port Elgin. She was grandmother to five; Jeff (Sabrina), Greg, Jacob (Taylor), Elizabeth and Sylvia. She was sister to Gail Cotter (the late Roger) of Brandon, Manitoba and Lynda Krechowicz (Rich) of Ottawa. She was an aunt to 22 immediate nieces and nephews and a great aunt to a great many more. We are all grateful for the many family reunions and get-togethers that she organized for us over the years. In many ways she was the backbone of both her Locking and Chamberlain families. She is immensely loved and will be cherished forever.
Jan also called the local community of Owen Sound her family. She was the fourth generation of Locking to be born, raised and die in Owen Sound. She was as close to the personification of Owen Sound as we think anyone will ever get. Her grandchildren refer to her as their “mayor of Owen Sound”. She has spent time on City Council, presided over the YM-YWCA, coordinated two significant Home-Coming festivals, co-created a private business called Creative Career Systems designed to help people bridge between careers, served with Children’s Aid, initiated and led a Cub Pack, introduced hundreds of children to swimming lessons, and oversaw the Owen Sound Marine and Rail Museum. Jan championed, fund-raised and took an active participation in too many other local causes and events to be listed.
Throughout her civic engagement, she was infectiously positive, inspiring and motivating. Fittingly, she was recognized by countless organizations for her tireless and selfless contributions. This year alone she received both the King Charles III Coronation Medal and Recognition from the Canadian Federation of University Women. She received two Volunteer of the Year awards from the City of Owen Sound. “If you wanted your idea to have legs, you only needed to ask Jan to join your cause”. Based on the many social media comments received to date, she touched, inspired, motivated and was loved by many people that she helped integrate, get a fresh start and find their “space” in our community. She was by all accounts, a “good egg” and a “class act”. She leaves a significant and lasting legacy. As her good friend Pat Kelly said, “There was never someone who gave so much and took so little from this life”.
Jan will be cremated and interred with George at Mount Pleasant Cemetery at a private family event. A Celebration of Jan’s life and community involvement is currently being planned for a later time with details to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations on Jan’s behalf can be directed to the Chamberlain Family Fund which is part of the Grey Bruce Community Foundation and supports initiatives set out by our local community. https://www.communityfoundationgreybruce.com/donate/
As her son Brian recently posted “I will add simply that every person that ever meant much to me, has met mom and come to know her positivity and joy. I was always proud to show her off and even to the end, she inspired.”
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brown Family Funeral Home, 1178 4th Ave West, Owen Sound, 519-376-3710 with memorial online at www.tannahill.com
- First Name : Jan
- Last Name : Chamberlain
- Funeral Home : Brown Family Funeral Homes, Owen Sound
- URL : https://www.tannahill.com/obituary/JaniceJan-Chamberlain
