Under a Full Moon

Love, laughter, and singing good-bye

“Get into ‘good trouble’ by calling out injustice when you see it. Life is not a spectator sport; jump in and get messy.” - Lorraine Mockford

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting a live music concert at Winter Fall, my winter themed venue in Second Life. It was a full moon night and snow was falling lightly as skaters made slow circles over the ice waiting for the show to start. Lights twinkled in the trees at the edge of the stage and craggy, snowy-capped mountains wrapped us in a pocket of stillness.

This night’s concert was being held in honor of Lorraine Mockford, a friend and fellow educator who passed away unexpectedly last Friday. I first met Lorraine at the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE) conference in 2010 where we were both volunteering. Both Lorraine and the conference would go on to become pioneers in the use of virtual worlds for education, but at the time we were both just trying to wrap our heads around everything that needed to get done to ensure the conference went off without a hitch.

Over the years we stayed in touch, sharing information, offering one another support, and marveling at the many and unexpected ways a virtual life can impact and enhance our first lives. Most recently, it was Lorraine who put me in touch with Oksana Levytska (a presenter at VWBPE) who was responsible for helping me launch Song Flight - my program to help Ukrainian children displaced by Russia’s invasion. For those who have followed the saga, you know that we held regular live concerts for the kids that included musicians and participants from around the world. See: https://jenaball.wixsite.com/song-flight. Lorraine was always there, urging me on.

When I learned Lorraine had passed, I wanted to find a way to celebrate her life. I asked the musicians to play a couple of songs I knew she’d love but to otherwise have fun. Because if there was anything that I will remember about Lorraine it was her love of a good laugh. I will miss her wicked smart wit, unwavering generosity, and commitment to education, but I know she would urge me to get on with the business of living - to find many and messy ways to make the world a better place. I hope you and Steve are busy making trouble in spirit, Lorraine.

Max and Beth performed in honor of Lorraine, seen below with her husband, Steve.

P.S. Click any of the images above or below to listen to the full concert.

Winter Fall Concert for Lorraine

Full moon rising over the Winter Fall stage and ice rink

More About Lorraine from her Obituary

Lorraine was born in Orangeville, Ontario, on September 3rd, 1956, to Helene and Jeff. She was their eldest daughter and was a big sister to Jacqueline (Lee) and David. While a child, her family moved to Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan, before finally settling in Victoria, BC. It was in Victoria that she met the love of her life, Steve; they married in 1972. Their 50-year union produced three children: Damion (Sheila), Tiffany (Rob), and Willow.

With fierce will and determination Lorraine always pursued higher education. Raising her children while working full time, she managed to carve out the time to attain a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Alberta and later her master’s in education focusing on community college leadership from the University of PEI.

Her professional career included over 25 years of service to the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC). She worked mainly in Health and Human Services, having a hand in the creation of the Early Childhood Studies program before working as an instructional designer, helping pioneer the NSCC’s adoption of online learning and blended learning.

Following retirement, her focus included volunteering and facilitating for the Virtual International Day of the Midwife, being program coordinator for Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education and continuing to occasionally teach under contract for the NSCC.

Lorraine was a spiritual force of nature; she valued her friendships deeply and stood strong as her family’s matriarch. She had a particular pride in her four “grandies”, Rain, Aunaka, Cole (Chelsee), and Jessica, and helped mould them into the wonderful people they are today.

---