HomeMy WebLinkAbout1299Article copied from the Pickering News Advertiser, Nay 19, 2002, page 40.Elaine (DeVere)
MinacsElaine Minacs passed away in her 61st year on May 17, 2006 at home surrounded by
her family. She died peacefully after a long and courageous battle wih cancer. Elaine was the
founder and exective chair of the board of Minacs Worldwide. Inc., the headquarters in Toronto.
She is survived by her husband Julius Minacs, daughter Andrea Minacs, brother John DeVere
and his wife Janis, sister Yvonne Agueci and her husband Frank, sister Michelle Allen and her
husband Chris, stepsister Mandy Devere, Aunt Maureen Warner (of Notholt, Meddleseex) and
numerous nieces and nephews. Elaine Minacs was born on March 8, 1945, in South Harrow, E
ngland. (She bacame a Canadian citizen years later). She was the oldest child of John Devere
and his wife Margaret Fleming. From the age of 18, Elaine lived with family and friends in
Oshawa and worked at General Motors until her marriage to Julius Minacs in 1965. On March 12,
1973, Elaine and Julius welcomed daughter Andrea Elaine to the family. In September 1981,
after Andea started school, Elaine founded her own company, which was housed in the origianl
Minacs home at 65 Albert Steet on Oshawa. Originally a temporary staffing company, Minacs
Wordlwide, had enjoyed 25 years of continuous growth and now employs approximately 5,000
people, with offices in 20 locations in Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Elaine tranformed her company into an internationally-recognized organization that provides
high-value BPO solutions centered on three core areas of service: contact centres,
integrated market services and back office administration . In 1999, she took the company from
a privately-held corporation reporting revenues of $39.9 million in 1998 to a publicly owned
compamy (TSX:MXW) with reported revenues of $290.5 million in 2005. Over the years, Elain's
entreprenurial skills have been nationally recognized at both the corporate and personal levels.
Minacs has received numerous awards for its industry leadership and business success. Among
these are: General Motors Distiction for Entreperneurship; YWCA of Greater Toronto 2002
Woman of Distinction for Entrepreneurship; Ernst and Young 2001 Entrpreneur of the Year;
Candaian Professional Sales Association Hall of Fame 2002 Diamong Award for commitment,
community involvment and generous chariable contributions; and 1993 Candian Woman
Entrepreneur of the year for Quality . A strong supporter of children's charities,
she was a past member of the Board of Directors of Kids' Help Phone. She has also been the
recipient of a number of business excellence awards from the Oshawa Chamber of
Commerce and the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade.Elaine was best known for her unfaltering
spirit and entrepreneurial drive. She identified new markets where the company could grow
and succeed. She faced challenges head-on and welcomed new oppotunites to take Minacs
into uncharted territory. Arrangements for a services are pending. For further details, please
contact the Armstrong Funeral Home, 124 King Street East, Oshawa 905-433-4711.
The family has requested that any donations made in Elaine's memory be made to her
favorite charities: In Canada, Cottage Dreams (www.cottagedreams.org), or The Colorectal
Cancer Association of Canada (www.ccac-accc.ca). In the U.S, the David Sheldrick Wildlife
Trust (www.sheldrichwildlife-trust.org or the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org).