Remembering Anita Dahlin

Anita Levine Dahlin   Dec 16,1947 – May 3,2026

On Sunday evening, May 3, 2026, at Mariposa House Hospice in Orillia, at the age of 78, we lost a vibrant, loving, brilliant mom, sister, cousin, and friend. A resident of Lagoon City, Brechin since 1999, Anita loved her little home on the canal—the trees and birds—and filled it with colour and beautiful objects. A dedicated hostess, she enjoyed visitors and pleasant evenings on her patio, ideally not shared with too many biting bugs.

She was keenly interested in laughter, lively conversation, current events and political debate, the New York Times crossword, family get-togethers, music, card games, art, and books. Late in life, she discovered a passion for televised basketball.

Anita graduated from Agincourt Collegiate and attended York University, (Honours BA in History and Sociology) and the University of Waterloo (MA in Medieval History). She became a young mother: her beloved daughter, Corinna, was born in 1970 when Anita was only 23. She lived in a tent with the baby and her former husband, the late Ralph Dahlin, for many weeks in Corinna’s first year in Wawa, Ontario. She then began her career as a journalist at the Sault Ste. Marie Daily Star, where she honed her exceptional writing skills—preferably typed, as no one could read her handwriting (sometimes not even Anita).

Subsequently, Anita held progressively more senior positions at the Ontario Human Rights Commission, including Regional Manager for the Southwestern Region, London, Ontario, and managed the first sexual-harassment case to be considered by the Commission. She also led the first Commission-initiated, industry-wide investigation into systemic discrimination. She developed policy guidelines and managed delicate liaison with community groups, the private sector, and politicians. She had over 25 years experience as a mediator, investigator and educator in areas of human rights, workplace discrimination and harassment and conflict resolution. She was as captivating in a training session as she was on the page—and she could hold her own with a roomful of OPP officers or Ontario Northland engineers.

Anita was the daughter of the late Robert Samuel (Sam) Levine—a long-time member of the Toronto Symphony’s double bass section and President Emeritus of the Toronto Musicians’ Association—and his beloved wife of 59 years, the late Tula Marlin. She is survived by her daughter, Corinna (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico); her brother, Mike, and sister-in-law, Rosie, of Toronto; her nephew, Matt Levine, and family of Aurora; and many cousins in Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, and the U.S.  Adored and adoring 'suegra' to her late son-in-law Ricardo Verduzco, aka Wolfy (2020). 

Her family wishes to express their gratitude for the care she received at Mariposa House, and—especially during this rapid and terrible illness—for the support of Dr. Anita Grieg of North York and the love shown by her friends from Lagoon City and the Orillia “mahjong ladies,” who stayed with her, brought food, did an airport pick up, reorganized furniture, shopped, and watched over her in her final moments: Raven, Diana, Marilyn, Kaye, Chris, Shannon, Karen, Sharon—and Monique, the “organizer-in-chief,” from her base in Oakville.

Family will receive friends at Carson Funeral Homes – L. Doolittle Chapel, 54 Coldwater St. E., Orillia (705)326-3595, on Sunday, May 24, 2026 as of 1 p.m., service at 1:30 sharp, followed by reception and refreshments.