Corinne Margaret Rivers BA(Hons), JD

November 26, 1950 – January 29, 2024

Corinne passed away peacefully, in a room filled with the love of family and close friends at the Margaret Bahen Hospice in Newmarket Ontario after a long battle with cancer.

Predeceased by her parents, Donald and Audrey Rivers, and husband, Peter O’Rourke, she will be sorely missed by her spouse of 23 years, Richard Chambers, brother Keith (Sue), sister Janice (Jack Ray), and sister Wendy (Bryan Pollard), 8 nieces and nephews and their spouses as well as 18 grand-nieces and nephews, and a large extended Rivers/Kitchen family. She will also be missed by the many close friends, associates, and clients whose lives she touched through her many years as a lawyer, volunteer, and friend.

Born in British Columbia, and raised in Cambridge (Galt) Ontario, Corinne will be remembered for brilliant mind, kind heart, positive outlook, and indomitable spirit. Corinne left high school after Grade 12 as an Ontario Scholar, completed a BA (WLU), taught school for a year in Grenada, WI, and returned to WLU to earn an Honours BA before heading to Osgoode Hall (U of T) where she achieved her law degree. Following a few years in independent practice in Cambridge, she married Peter and moved to Hong Kong, where she applied for and passed the Bar Transfer Test in London (UK), and then practiced as Senior Crown Attorney in Hong Kong for the duration of their stay. They returned to Canada when her husband’s health declined, and she opened an office in Richmond Hill where she maintained a general law practice until her recent retirement. During this time, she served as President of the York Regional Law Association and planned many social and educational events for members. In her 45-year career, her clients appreciated her diligence, and sense of justice.

Family – immediate and extended, was very important to Corinne. She loved family events and cherished her siblings, nieces and nephews and their offspring, many of whom were lucky recipients of her handcrafted dolls and toys. Over her lifetime, activities she enjoyed were horseback riding, and golfing, and she even belonged to a recreational gun club in her younger adult years. She was an avid reader, a passion she shared with Richard. Friendships founded in loyalty and honesty were important to Corinne, and she and Richard enjoyed a large circle of friends, whose relationships they valued and nurtured.

Corinne was passionate about human rights and equality for women and girls, and she devoted more than 40 years to the work of Soroptimist – an international organization committed to empowering women and girls to overcome barriers through education. She was a founding member of clubs in Cambridge and York Region (Ontario) and has been a member of clubs in Toronto and Hong Kong. She served in many capacities locally, regionally, and nationally, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada. She was the recipient of the Regional Dream Maker Award in 2022 in recognition of her many contributions. She enjoyed and excelled at organizing fundraising events, and did that not only for Soroptimist, but also the Kidney Foundation.

The family is grateful for the care and support Corinne received from Richard, the Giusti and Kanitz families and the staff of Southlake Regional Health Centre, and the Margaret Bahen Hospice in her final months and days.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2024 at the Aurora Seniors’ Centre, 90 John West Way, Aurora, ON L4G 8A2 from 1-5 p.m. All are welcome to attend to celebrate Corinne and share memories of a life well lived. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada or the Margaret Bahen Hospice, Newmarket would be appreciated.