Katrina Patricia Ruff

Katrina was born on December 13, 1987 in Richmond, British Columbia. Katrina and her parents moved to Lethbridge when she was 1 ½ years. She loved to play with the families two Siberian Huskies, Raku and Mandi. From 1993 to 1998, Katrina attended St. Mary’s Elementary School French Immersion program, and then attended Gilbert Patterson Junior High School French Immersion program from 1999 until 2001. Katrina was named the Grade 8 Band student of the year. In 2000, Katrina was confirmed at St. Martha’s Church. During this period, Katrina also achieved 1st place for piano in many Kiwanis Music Festivals. Katrina then attended Winston Churchill High School International Baccalaureate program from 2002 until 2005. She achieved Honor’s status every semester. She was involved with extra-curricular activities including the National Honors Society, Round Table moderator/planner, Ignition Club, Youth Based Education Committee member/planner and was a Drama Production Assistant in 2003. Katrina was the 1st Flautist and section leader in the W.C.H.S Orchestra and the pianist in the Jazz Band. In Grade 11, she was named as the Band Student of the year. Katrina graduated with four advanced University credits.

Katrina was awarded an Early Entrance Merit Award from the University of Lethbridge in 2004 and an Entrance Merit Award for the U. of L. in 2005. Katrina enrolled in the University of Lethbridge in 2005, in the Bachelor of Science Program – Geography with a concentration in GIS and Geology. She entered this program because she always had a passion for earth, its history and what makes it work. She wanted to use her knowledge to improve her community and keep the environment safe. During 2008, Katrina accepted an 8-month U of L Co-op student program with Suncor Energy Inc. in Fort McMurray. In 2006 Katrina took an Art History course at the U of L in Paris. Her Aunt Leslie and Uncle Joe also took this course. Katrina was able to meet her Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Bruno and their three children in France at the end of the course. Katrina graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Geography) in 2011.

Katrina’s legacy was deeply rooted in volunteerism from a very young age. During 1998 & 1999, she volunteered at St. Mary’s School by Babysitting Grade 1 & 2 students during lunch hours. Katrina volunteered with the Lethbridge Public Library as a Volunteer Reader with the Ready, Set, Read program. She was a Girl Guide and volunteered in many capacities from 1995 - 2001. Katrina volunteered at Volunteer Lethbridge in a variety of office duties and later as a Project Paintbrush volunteer. She also attended the Sports Camp Leadership Program at the U. of L and assisted with the multi-sports camp in 2001. Katrina started volunteering at the Helen Schuler Coulee Centre in 2007. Her duties included: Assistant Program Leader with the Big Bird, Little Bird and Chickadees Programs. Later she volunteered with the Rover program, Special Projects and was also a Musician, Sound Director and provided Technical Support for the Creature Theatre Program. She also volunteered for the Moonlight Run, the Ped Pals Program at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital and Habitat for Humanity. In 2003, she was awarded the Jr. High Leaders of Tomorrow Volunteer Award. Katrina’s community Involvement continued when she was at the University of Lethbridge as a Flautist in the Conservatory Orchestra and in the Conservatory Wind Ensemble.

Katrina worked part-time at Pennington’s from 2011 to mid-2024, and many of her co-workers became close friends, with whom she continued to socialize with even after leaving Pennington’s.

In 2012, Katrina started work at Blackbridge Geomatics in Lethbridge now called Planet. She was a Data Processing Technician, working on Satellite imagery. We were informed that she was a very talented person on the team with an amazing skill for fine details, a team player who was always willing to help other team members. Her supervisors thought she was highly motivated, enthusiastic, and hard working. Katrina had a calmness around work, around people and was extremely satisfied and committed to her job. She saved diligently and was able to buy her first house in 2014.

Katrina loved going out with her friends for pot-luck dinners, movies & board games. She played board games with a local group and online, she played games weekly with an international gaming group in the early hours of Sunday morning, so often had to nap before coming over to her parents place Sunday afternoons. She also enjoyed playing bridge with her dad. Katrina sponsored/supported artists, especially at craft fairs in Lethbridge. Katrina’s friends talk about her kindness, support, a sense of humour and adventure. They all say she was an amazing friend and person. Katrina also enjoyed writing poetry and stories, reading, medieval, ancient and archaeology history, going to concerts, attending a Star Trek convention with her dad and mom, playing the flute and piano and spending time with her family.

Katrina, we love you, are very proud of you, want to talk, hug and laugh with you and miss you very much. We think that you were a very precious gift to us.

A Celebration of Life will be held at ST. MARTHA’S CATHOLIC CHURCH – Knights of Columbus Basement Hall, 355 Columbia Blvd. West, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. A reception will follow at the hall. Katrina’s ashes will be scattered later this summer.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Bursaries that her parents will be setting up for the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Music or the Faculty of Science - Geography Department. Or for donations to Thrombosis Canada, the Heart & Stroke Foundation or to the Helen Schuler Coulee Centre.