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Francie Beresford (1954-2016): ‘She came to work every day with a smile’

Concordia mourns a beloved curriculum administrator
October 5, 2016
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By Catherine Bolton


Francie Beresford began her over-20-year career at Concordia University in 1994, working with Jack Lightstone, then vice-rector of Academics. 

Since that time, she has worked with three other provosts, three vice-provosts, and countless associate deans, faculty and staff members, helping to shepherd curriculum proposals through the Academic Programs Committee to Senate and to the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur.

Francie Beresford was instrumental in the development and implementation of Concordia’s first web-based curriculum processing software, Provotrack. Francie Beresford (1954-2016)

Francie was instrumental in the development and implementation of Concordia’s first web-based curriculum processing software, called Provotrack. Initiated in 2001, it has been used across all faculties and departments for more than 15 years. Francie’s knowledge of Provotrack was legendary, and she generously and happily gave of her time to train countless administrators and professors in its deployment.

She even introduced her daughter Tamara early on in her career to the Office of the Provost and its inner workings.

Francie’s editing abilities for any document that might cross her desk were unmatched, so much so that she was frequently asked to edit documents outside of her expertise because, as a consummate professional, she could be trusted to find any inconsistencies or errors.

Francie came to work every day with a smile on her face, ready to share stories of her family and friends, to laugh with her colleagues over large and small celebrations or frustrations. As a masterful baker of cakes and scones, she brought many “samples” for her colleagues to try out — and her colleagues were very happy to encourage her striving for cake perfection so that they could sample even more.

Francie was a gentle and giving soul, a loyal friend to colleagues across a wide spectrum of the university. Francie was beloved by all who met her. Her warm support, affectionate understanding and positive attitude towards life and faith will be greatly missed.


A funeral service for Francie Beresford will be held on Saturday, October 8, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Parish (125 Grove St., Greenfield Park).

If you would like to make a donation to the Francie Beresford Memorial Fund to support deserving students, you can contribute online, by telephone at: 514-848-2424 (ext. 3884) or by sending a cheque payable to Concordia University to:

Concordia University (FB-520)
1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.
Montreal, QC
H3G 1M8



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