Sally Binks

Sometimes heroes are defined by the small steps they take in the face of adversity. For Sally, these steps came during her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. She faced each and every day with positivity, strength and bravery. Her fighting spirit was an inspiration to the people in her life and a reminder to live each day to the fullest. Sally was known for her kindness, helpfulness and big heart.

Sally was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1951 and was the youngest of five. She met her husband Greg in high school and they were married in 1980. With their son Jeff, the family moved from Markham to Calgary in 1984. Shortly after, they had their daughter Anne.

Sally was passionate about reading, which she applied to her career as an elementary school librarian. She passed along her love of books to students and teachers as well as her own children. Sally enjoyed being outdoors, whether it was walking with friends, gardening, hiking or skiing. She could always be found with birdseed in her pocket for the chickadees. She had an adventurous spirit and travelled as often as she could. She was passionate about exploring England, Scotland and Ireland, retracing the steps of characters from her favourite books.

In early 2019, Sally went to her doctor after feeling run down for a number of weeks. She went for bloodwork and was immediately sent to the hospital for a blood transfusion due to her platelets being so low. This led to further testing and the surprising diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. The next day she began treatment at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. Following months of treatment, her cancer went into remission which allowed her to come home and be a part of the outpatient program. Sally took this time to rediscover the simple joys in life. She could often be found enjoying a good book in the sunshine or out on a drive in the countryside taking in the beauty of the landscape.

In October 2019, Sally was able to participate with Sally’s Squad, in her first and only Light the Night. She loved seeing the glow of the lanterns and how this event brought together her favourite people. Since her passing, Sally’s Squad continues to meet each year to share memories, stories and love for Sally. As of 2025, our team has raised over $50,000 in her name.

Unfortunately Sally’s cancer came back at the end of December 2019, requiring her to return to the hospital for treatment. Sally picked a beautiful sunset to be her last one on the evening of Friday January 24, 2020 after fighting a year-long battle with leukemia. She was at home and surrounded by family. She had the warmth of the sun shining on her face and favourite view of the mountains right until the end. Sally passed peacefully just moments after the sun went down.

Sally loved looking at the moon and would reach out to encourage friends and family to do the same on a particularly beautiful night. She was born on a day with a full moon brightening the night sky, a wonderful metaphor for the effect she had on the lives of those around her. It was fitting there was a new moon on her final night; the light gone but destined to return and reflect into our hearts as our love for her lives on.

“I’ll be looking at the moon but I will be seeing you”