Delores Louise Mori

On July 27, 2025, Delores Mori passed away unexpectedly, yet perfectly: at home, in her garden, on a beautiful day.  She was present at gallery and theatre openings, Wednesdays on the Wharf, Jazz Nights and Farmers Markets, up until her last day.  A fixture on the streets of Salmon Arm, Delores offered up a good razzing or the latest news if you ran into her on her daily beat.  Recognizable by her signature striped shirts and sunglasses, Delores was always up for a visit with pretty much anyone she met.  

Born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Delores and her older siblings, Joan and Jerry, were raised by their hard-working mom, Hanna.  They knew tough times but developed a notable determination and work ethic because of it.  The family moved to Rutland when Delores was in her teens, where she excelled academically. While still in school, Delores worked alongside her mom doing janitorial work in hotels and schools.  She also was a hair model, which likely won’t surprise those who knew her.  With her sense of precision and thoroughness, Delores was a skilled seamstress, and she taught 4-H sewing to others.  She also excelled at water skiing (barefoot!) as well as downhill skiing.  She worked at Karl’s Sport Haus, the first pro ski shop in Vernon, and was featured in television ads for Silver Star.  It was at Silver Star where Delores met Richard, and they married in 1969.  Delores brought Lisa and Alan into the world in the years that followed, giving them the gifts of her time and love. These years were filled with golf and hiking (Eva Lake & Illecillewaet Glacier were favourites), dogs and cats (she was the first to offer a home to those in need), and a commitment to giving her kids as many opportunities as she could.  Alan married Wendy Hadland, and when their kids, Hana & Daniel, were born Delores dedicated almost every day to being there for them.  She walked Hana & Daniel home from school, took them to story time at the library, bought them subscriptions to the kids series at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre, and perhaps most importantly, she took them to the lakeshore for walks on the “beaver trail”.  Sticks, stones and feathers, flora and fauna — all were treasure greater than gold.  

Delores filled her last few decades with a similar commitment to the arts and her community in general.  She served on the City’s Heritage Advisory Committee for numerous years, on the Board of Directors at Caravan Farm Theatre for three decades, and on the Board of Directors for both the Shuswap Art Gallery Association and Shuswap District Arts Council, from the late 80s to present day.  Beyond serving on these Boards, Delores spent countless hours volunteering hands-on at Caravan and the Gallery:  scrubbing floors and toilets, doing mail-outs, picking up supplies, sitting in smoky bingo halls for gaming funding, working openings, on-the-street advocating — anything and everything that needed to be done.  These many years of volunteering culminated in Delores being awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, for her work that led to the creation of the Salmon Arm Art Gallery.  Her on-the-street presence — cajoling mayors and councillors, coffees with local journalists and editors — this soft yet intensely effective advocacy was key in both the founding and sustainability of the Art Gallery.  

Beyond supporting arts institutions, Delores also supported artists directly, by showing up for sales and exhibitions, concerts and fundraisers.  She bought their art, donated generously, and told others to do the same.  She set an example for us all by showing up for her community.  

With her genuine interest in the lives of others, Delores was a walking archive of the Who-What-Where-When of Salmon Arm.  The history of a community and its web of connections that live inside each of us matter.  That’s why taking the time to be present with one another matters.  Delores knew that.  We know that.  We hope that you will join us in celebrating Delores and her life well-lived, at Song Sparrow Hall on Sunday, October 5, 2025.  Doors open at 1 pm, celebration begins at 1:30 pm.  Let’s gather to share stories and laughter, face to face, just as Delores would have loved.  

If you are inspired to do so, Delores would be chuffed if you supported exhibition programming with a donation to the Salmon Arm Art Gallery Endowment Fund at the Shuswap Community Foundation, or to theatre that’s outstanding in its field at Caravan Farm Theatre.  Alternatively, she’d be tickled if you dropped some extra money in the donation jar at Jazz Night or Wednesdays on the Wharf.

Song Sparrow Hall is located at 180 Lakeshore Drive NW, in Salmon Arm.  Accessible parking is located on site.  Additional parking is available in the Salmar and Hudson city lots next door, with street parking available on Hudson Ave, Lakeshore Dr and Shuswap St.