The Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women

BPW Canada In Memoriam

BPW Canada in Memoriam

BPW Clubs are invited to recognize and honour club members who have passed. BPW member contributions are recognized at the biennial memorial service conducted at the National Convention.

In Memoriam Donations

Women’s W.O.R.K. (Women Offering Resources and Knowledge) is a Memorial Fund affiliated with BPW Canada and helps clubs host educational events for members and community through its funding.  Women’s W.O.R.K. is a Charitable Organization registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Donations can be made in memory of loved ones through Women’s W.O.R.K. and charitable donation receipts will be issued.

Donation cheques can be mailed to:

WORK Treasurer

1851 Sandy Somerville Lane, London, Ontario N6K 5R4

To pay via credit card or PayPal, submitted through www.canadahelps.org resulting in an immediate tax receipt and also the option of sending a virtual card.

BPW Canada members, please login to the Members’ area of this site to download the Women’s W.O.R.K. application.

2024

Cambridge, ON – Mary Balfour

Sault Ste Marie, ON – Dora Cook

Penticton, BC – Helen Audrey Gilman

Montreal, QC – Julie Leclerc

Brampton, ON – Patricia Prez

Langley, BC – Barbara Hall

2022

Belleville, ON – Ruth McMullen

North Toronto, ON – Valerie Dunn

Sault Ste Marie, ON – Ruth Jesshope

North Toronto, ON – Linda Rice

London, ON – Laura Noble

Langley, BC – Jill Worobec 

2020

Bowmanville, ON – Mavis Carlton

Brampton, ON – Janet Brousseau

Brampton, ON – Pamela Moore

Brampton, ON – Paddy Silverthorne

Greater Sudbury, ON – Paula Tarini

London, ON – Jeannette Veenstra

Online – Darlene Savage

Ottawa, ON – Kathleen Vernon-Laing

St. Catharines, ON   Dorothy Krynicki

Saskatoon, SK – Sue Brooks

2018

Brampton, ON – Linda Barker 

St Catharines, ON – Isabel Crumb 

North Toronto, ON – Shirley Giles 

Sault Ste Marie, ON – Sharon Graham 

Brampton, ON Pearl McCabe

Barrie, ON – Kathryn Scandrett 

North Toronto, ON – Sandra Jane Spencer 

Mission, BC – Heather Stewart 

Toronto, ON – Jennie Wdowiak 

Barrie, ON – Barb Wetmore 

2016

Welland, ON: Linda Armburst, member of BPW Welland and former provincial president of Ontario (1991-1992), was very passionate about resolutions at BPW.

Belleville, ON: Dorothy Brown was the charter member in 1950 of the Belleville club and served for a term as provincial president of Ontario.

Cambridge, ON – Elizabeth Roos Clare was a long time member of 46 years and served as president of the Cambridge club (1983-1985). Libby was a Life member of BPW

Brampton, ON -Olga Gill passed away while serving as National Secretary.  Her previous involvement at BPW included being President of BPW Toronto, historian and secretary for BPW Ontario & Canada, as well as Chairperson for Resolutions.

Toronto, ON -Henrietta Green was a long-time member of BPW (since 1972).  She served as treasurer of BPW Toronto and as President for two consecutive terms (1999-2003).

2014

Brampton, ON – Marcia Ruth Barhydt

Brampton, ON – Anne Felesko

Medicine Hat, AB – Violet Lee Grace, a member of BPW since 1968,  passed away July 30, 2013. To read her full obituary, click here.

Regina, SK – Eleanore King, long time member of BPW, passed away January 29, 2014. Eleanore was the moving force behind the first Careers Unlimited event over 30 years ago. She was the president of BPW Regina at one time, and attended many national and international BPW meetings on behalf of the club. She was a delight to know and work with and will be greatly missed.

2012

Toronto, ON- Doris Elsie (Woolcott) Gyatt Ph.D. (See attached Obiturary); BPW Canada Past President
Doris Guyatt,

BPW Canada Past President

Doris Guyatt, a member of the Toronto club for over 30 years, was President of the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women from 1990 to 1992.

Memories:

A charming, smart and efficient lady, Doris was always ready to answer questions, give wise advice or say a gracious word, even when she could no longer attend events.

My favourite memory of Doris is from the 1992 Convention in Winnipeg. After a wardrobe change on a busy day, the always impeccably groomed President Doris showed up with mismatched earrings. Nothing much was said then, but by the next morning the word had spread and she faced a room full of delegates who had adopted the new fashion. It took a while for Doris to realize what we’d done and then we all had the biggest laugh of that Convention.

Fran Donaldson
Past President/ancienne présidente, BPW Canada RR #4 Picton ON K0K 2T0

2010

Vancouver, BC – Emily Davies and Phyllis Mortimer

Emily Davies

Emily Davies

  • Emily passed away on December 23, 2009, aged 92
  • She was a Veteran of WWII, serving with the Queen Alexandra Imperial military nursing service in Burma and India.
  • Immigrated to Canada in 1952, working as a public health nurse until her retirement.
  • A member of the Burma Star, St. John Ambulance, the Vancouver Council of Women. the Vancouver Welsh Society and the Cambrian singers.
  • Became a convert to computers and e-mail when over 80 and an inspiration to every older member of BPW to "adapt".

Phillis Mortimer

Phillis Mortimer

  • Phyllis passed away on November 8, 2009 at the age of 92
  • The first woman to ever achieve the rank of Sergeant with Vancouver Police
  • Achievement: largely responsible for female officers getting pay equity with the men.

Duncan, BC – Irene Hall

Irene Hall

  • Irene died February 25th  2009, short 2 months of her 104th Birthday
  • Life Member of BPW Duncan, involved since 1945.
  • A member of the board of Duncan and District Association for the Mentally Handicapped.
  • Honours: BPW Duncan Woman of the Month (1987); Canada Certificate of Merit (1988);   Certificate and Medal recognizing her significant contribution to Community and Canada as part of the 125th Anniversary of Confederation of Canada (1992).; UNICEF 20 year pin (1985).

Kamloops, BC – Frances Fraser & Dorothy Schofield

Frances Fraser

  • Frances passed away on  October 14, 2008, aged 96.
  • A teacher by profession
  • BPW member for 37 years, serving as both Kamloops  President and Regional Director
  • Member of the Kamloops Garden Club

Dorothy Schofield

  • Dorothy passed away on February 10, 2010, at the age of 83.
  • Charter President of BPW Kamloops (1949)
Activities:
  • Foster mother
  • Active in United Church
  • Canvasser for Red Cross & Heart & Stroke Foundation
  • Eastern Star
  • Helped expand & update Heritage Park
  • Helped with & participated in Senior Games

Penticton, BC – Ruth Brooks & Elaine Cash-Rumbell & Vera Davies & Marge Donovan & Elinor Fitzpatrick & Donna Roth

Winnipeg, MN – Irene Elizabeth Grant
Moncton, NB – Elaine Burke-Gauvin
Brampton, ON – Kay Simpson
Sudbury, ON – Elizabeth (Betty) Freelandt & Diane Daigle & Kathryn Volf
Quebec Metro, PQ – Claudette Blauchet

Lena Madesin Phillips

“Let us build together and see what we can make.”

Lena Madesin Phillips, founder and first President of BPW International, 1930

Our History

The Famous Five