Ellen Manchee
Ellen Manchee left us on March 24, 2026 as was her way – peacefully and on her own terms. She was surrounded by friends and family.
Ellen was born in Toronto to Eric Manchee and Melva Laing Manchee. Her small family included older brother Rod and younger sister Janice. Together the family moved among various locations in the Prairies until relocating to Ottawa in 1963.
Ellen lived a varied academic and professional life. She helped found the Ottawa Street Clinic, which later became the Centretown Community Health Centre. Among a variety of other jobs, she worked as a bookstore manager at Ottawa’s Octopus Books and as a legal secretary.
None of these jobs suited Ellen’s substantial intellect, so she returned to school. She first pursued a diploma in Museum Technology and later received a BA in Material Culture and an MA in Heritage Conservation from Carleton University. These achievements led her to work with the Prince of Wales Heritage Centre in Yellowknife, Ottawa’s National Archives and then to a career as an historian with Parks Canada. In these roles, she worked to ensure that the material culture of First Nations was included as history, rather than set aside as ethnography. At Parks, she tried to ensure the record balanced the hero worship of Canada’s Prime Ministers with an honest look at their less than stellar qualities and questionable or problematic achievements. Her interpretations made them real people.
Ellen was at the head of the pack in her very early commitment to feminism and opposition to the Vietnam War. She consistently tried to convince people that political change was not about making rules and reciting land acknowledgements; it was about doing the hard work it takes to find an outcome that is fair and equitable for everyone. Ellen always considered herself a political person, well left of centre, but outside of a year with the New Democratic Youth, she didn’t make politics or work her first priority.
Ellen’s true passion was acting. Ellen discovered acting as a child and continued to participate in community theatre throughout her life. In her 40s she decided she wanted to pursue professional training. For many years, she took intensive classes in a range of skills, such as Shakespearean drama and comedy. She travelled internationally to England, Australia and the United States to improve her craft.
Ellen studied acting for the camera for many years with the late Canadian teacher, director and author David Rotenberg. It was a rare week that Ellen wasn’t in rehearsal for some play or film.
Ellen loved quietly and deeply. She said her nephew, Dan, was one of her greatest joys and they spent many happy hours making each other laugh. She said she was lucky in her parents and siblings as they all shared a similar world view and disagreements were over details. She had a large and eclectic group of friends, who valued her insights, wisdom, and sly humour. In turn, Ellen truly valued her friends.
Ellen said her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer came after a long and privileged life and she really couldn’t be too mad about it – maybe some regret, but no rage. She will be missed.
In keeping with Ellen’s wishes, there will be no services. Donations may be sent to Caringbridge.org, which kept Ellen’s family and friends in the loop during her illness, or Ottawa’s Maycourt Hospice, where Ellen spent her last month.