Karen Heather Macaulay

Karen Heather Macaulay was born on December 1, 1947, quietly passing away on February 17, 2026, at the age of seventy-eight. Her husband Allan and her sons, Douglas, Roger, Stacy were with all with her.

Karen was born in Edmonton and was raised by her parents, Douglas and Donna Hall, in Edmonton’s Elmwood neighborhood. Karen attended Eastglen High School and graduated in 1965.
During her time in Edmonton, Karen had a fun filled life and participated enthusiastically in various sports and activities, such as hockey, softball and excelled as a swimmer. She taught swimming and lifeguarded for many years. Her parents bought her an Edmonton Journal gift certificate covering ten ski lessons. This was quite an adventure but she was up to the task. She had to take the bus across town from Elmwood in north Edmonton to the club, carrying her equipment with her each time all the way Edmonton Ski Club by the Muttart Conservatory. Karen’s ball team won a city championship when she was in Junior high.

When she was ten, her family purchased a lake lot at Lac La None, where they enjoyed swimming, fishing, water skiing, and exploring nature. In her younger years she loved to have a wild pet sparrow hawk, chipmunk, and ducklings much to her parents dismay. Her two brothers, Greg and Todd, have also participated in athletics, including hockey and water skiing, among other sports. The three siblings have always maintained a close and loving relationship. Both brothers have lovely cabins on the lake still; she loves to visit them.

Karen met Allan in high School and when she started University in 1966, they renewed their friendship and were married just before their final year in university in 1968. In1969, they were fortunate to get an assignment working in Tanzania with Canadian University service overseas. Their assignment was in Dar es Salaam. Karen worked as a Research Botanist there at the Temeke Veterinary Laboratory setting up a herbarium and building information base on Poisonous plants. She published a booklet in Swahili on one of the most poisonous plants for farmers raising livestock. Karen’s mother brought her two brothers to Tanzania for a memorable three-week visit. Karen enjoyed Snorkeling in the ocean, fishing, water skiing, visiting game parks. The assignment to Tanzania was a once in a lifetime experience for them.

When Karen returned to Canada in 1971, she found her dream position with Fish and wildlife as a Beginner biologist. Life continued, and Allan was moved to Bonnyville. She left her position a year later.

In 1974 they moved to Barrhead, got involved in the community and later bought a 60 acre piece of the land which they converted to a tree nursery. All three sons were born in Barrhead, and they definitely put down roots.

Karen was very active in the community. She founded a women's investment club, played for the Bandits hockey team, and coached minor hockey. She ran a constituency office [3 yrs] in Barrhead for the Joe Clark when he was the federal minister for external affairs. He brought her to Ottawa where she was able to meet prime minister Brian Mulroney and had a chance to attend a fancy gala.

She started her own alpaca business on the farm in 1989 shipping many animals to buyers in the USA and around Canada she figured out how to meet the complicated export protocols. When she started the alpacas there were only 300 in Canada. The whole family pitched in to make the business ventures and family life successful.

Her boys were busy and were engaged in Minor hockey, 4H, judo, and swimming. Roger pursued a career as a heavy-duty mechanics, Stacy became a translator in Germany, and Doug works as an agrologist and biologist for Alberta Agriculture.

The nursery was sold in 2008 and they made their big move to Devon Alberta. Roger and Jen were already living there. Devon is a wonderful community with lovely green spaces and friendly people. Karen immediately got involved with the Nordic Ski Club board helping with coaching [15 yrs] and ski rentals for the youth program. Our nine Devon grandchildren eagerly joined the program as a significant family activity. We all enjoyed going to the Birkebeiner ski festival and Karen’s venue was the 13-k race which she participated in for 12 years including 2025. Karen started the Devon Nature Club Society in 2015 which was instrumental in having the 300- acre Bob McDonald Nature Park established. The club helped organize several educational events, and in 2025, with support from Devon Town Council, the Parks bylaw was passed to protect green spaces.

Karen always played an active and caring role as a parent, helping her sons navigate numerous obstacles throughout their lives. She loved spending time with them and her eleven grandchildren Blake, Gavin, Allana, Kassia, Evander, Kael, Solange, Calliope, Oceanne, Matteo Aurelie. She hopes they will all remember her.

Karen and Allan enjoyed a full life of world travel, sports and protecting our natural world. Karen brought exceptional style to everything she did, excelling in both sewing and cooking. Her sister-in-law Linda Capjack collaborated with her on many projects, and Karen also said back in the 80’s and 90’s that Marth Stewart was her best friend. Roger would say to his mom you are very self-satisfied! Well, she is very self-satisfied with the life she led and with her loving and supportive family.

With her last words she sent love to her family.

Donations in her memory may be made in her name to either:
The Edmonton and Area land Trust that supports many areas such as Bunch Berry Meadows https://www.ealt.ca/donate, more information at https://www.ealt.ca/conservation-lands
or
The Devon Nordic Ski Club by sending us an Interac e-Transfer to their email address - DNSC.Devon.ab@gmail.com

The family thanks Devon Hospital and Emergency and Alberta Health Services for their amazing help so important!