Viviane and Lynn Falconer
Where there’s a Will...
“Never.”
That’s what her doctor said when twelve-year-old Viviane Falconer expressed her dream to become a nurse, despite frequent epileptic seizures.
Returning home devastated, Viv went to her father for comfort. His reassuring words instilled a lasting ambition in her that would earn her success and accolades throughout her life. “As long as you have the will,” he told her, “you can be and do whatever you want.”
Meanwhile, a young boy named Lynn was raising his four siblings in Edmonton. His mother’s focus was on rehabilitating his father, an RCMP officer who was injured while on duty. The trust Lynn’s mother put in him caused him to grow up quickly, taking on one new responsibility after another. She admired him for getting the children ready for school, helping with their homework, and ensuring they got to bed on time. But his busy life was interrupted when he experienced a grave seizure at the age of 19.
As Viv grew into adulthood, the words of her father echoed in her head, and she was proud when she secured a demanding position working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Realising the potential of her seizures to hold her back, Viv resolved to stand out through the dedication and quality she put into her work. All was going according to plan until, two years into the job; she suffered a seizure in front of another staff member.
“I was sure they were going to let me go because of my condition,” she recalls. Instead, they did the opposite: “They told me I was one of their best staff and they had no wish to fire me.”
Reinvigorated by this endorsement, Viv decided to start taking courses by correspondence and soon she was applying to go to university. Her determination to succeed doubled when a boyfriend told her she wouldn’t be able to do it. That was the last time she saw him! Viviane was thrilled to be accepted into the Faculty of Human and Social Development at the University of Victoria. It was hard work but she was glad to be challenged and her critical thinking skills blossomed.
In his new hometown of Victoria, Lynn was diagnosed with epilepsy. Undeterred, he excelled in the Sea Cadets and, in his spare time, astonished his mother by taking apart and rebuilding old radios, leaving them “working magically.” Lynn decided to follow his natural inclinations and pursue a career in electronics. He wasn’t used to letting adversity overcome him, and his medical condition wasn’t going to stop him either.
A year into her child and youth care program at UVic, Viv met Lynn who was installing radios and communications systems in a forest company’s large trucks and in RCMP vehicles. They shared an appreciation of nature and spent time camping, canoeing and fishing. This, as well as their mutually unflappable determination, formed a bond between them that blossomed into love. They built a life together that combined their penchant for hard work with using their hands; never buying something if they could make it themselves. For example, they renovated their modest house, room by room, and maintain a productive garden and small orchard. Viv says you can “find Lynn building himself a fishing rod, working on his model trains or fly tying” while she is “knitting a sweater, crocheting a baby blanket or making our own jam.”
Determined to instill in all students the sense of fortitude their parents gave them, Viv and Lynn are endowing scholarships for future generations at UVic through Viv’s Will. In memory of her father David, Viv declares “Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Students really need to hear that constantly.”
In the Falconers’ case, Viviane’s father’s favourite saying is not just their inspiration. It’s quite literally their legacy.
For more information on donating to UVic, please contact mgrlegacydev@uvic.ca or 250-721-8967.