Karen Bailey

Artist, painter

“I paint people at work. Military medical personnel, church tea ladies, waitresses, charity shop volunteers”—Karen Bailey

Ottawa-based artist.

Is a graduate of the Reigate School of Art & Design, England.

Is a “painter of the people”. Many of her works feature behind-the-scenes workers and under-recognized people.

Some of her series have highlighted the working life of servers and hairstylists while “Blanche Dot Doris”, focused on older women who prepare food for church functions.

Some of her past work includes courtroom drawing for Global Television, book illustration for Appletree Press, U.K., heraldic art and calligraphy.

Has received the prestigious Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grants for drawing and painting twice in her 30-year career.

As one of five military appointed artists in the Defence Program, she spent one week at a Kandahar hospital in 2007 to paint portraits of patients and medical military personnel. She entitled this collection of work—“The Triage Collection”.

Her largest canvas to date, Blast Victims, was included in the War & Medicine exhibition at the Canadian War Museum.

Was commissioned to paint the official portrait of past governor general Michaëlle Jean for Rideau Hall (unveiling took place in September 2012).

www.canada.com www
ottawacitizen.com
www.karenbailey.ca

Sally Benson

Violinist

“Sally was very talented, very quick, very solid and she hardly ever missed anything. She was one of the big strengths of the violin section”. - Lynne Hammond, violinist with the National Arts Centre Orchestra

Native of Rochester, NY; moved to Ottawa circa 1970; died in 2012.

Received her bachelor’s degree in music from the Eastern School of Music and her master’s degree in music from Indiana University.

Played viola and violin with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra before joining the National Arts Centre Orchestra where she played from 1970 to 2012; she toured with NACO all over the world.

Worked with all the National Arts Centre Orchestra conductors.

Also played viola with Thirteen Strings, the Ottawa Symphony and with the Laurier and Benedykt String Quartets.

Participated in the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival since its inception.

www.legacy.com

http://nac-cna.ca

www.ottawacitizen.com

Agathe Bélisle

Volunteer, philanthropist

Lived in Ottawa; died in 2011.

Founding member of the Hôpital Montfort Auxiliary and Volunteer Association; president of the Association for over 20 years; has actively participated in the enhancement of the hospital in her role as volunteer.

The Montfort Hospital has officially recognized her contribution and commitment as a woman who lived the core values of the hospital, and was both dedicated and faithful to the mission.

wwwhopitalmontfort.com

Marcelle Barthe

Writer, producer, French-Canadian radio and television pioneer

Born in Ottawa in 1904; died in Montreal in 1964.

Studied at la Congrégation Notre-Dame (convent) in Ottawa.

Founding member of a theatre company called “La Rampe” in Ottawa in 1929; also had roles in various plays.

Graduated from the University of Ottawa School of Music and Elocution in 1935.

Worked at the CKCH radio station in Hull; used the pseudonym “Françoise” on her daily radio aimed at a female audience.

Wrote, produced and hosted a children’s program at Société Radio-Canada; went on to have a long career hosting programs, doing interviews and working as an announcer; she also adapted plays for French and English television.

Was hired by the CBC/Radio-Canada in 1938; first bilingual woman to be hired as an announcer.

There is a park named for her in Montréal, Québec.

http://www.crccf.uottawa.ca

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcelle_Barthe

Mary Bryant

Botanist, zoologist, teacher

"Throughout her life Mary was a very positive force in the lives of hundreds of people, a cheerleader and motivator for her children, grandchildren and legions of students."

- Carl Down, True North Perspective

Born in 1919, in Ardath, Saskatchewan; moved to Ottawa in 1967; died in Ottawa in 2011.

Graduated from Normal School (Teacher’s College) in 1936; worked at a number of one room schools, an Indian Residential School at Lac L Rouge, Saskatchewan and from 1944-1948 at the Anglican Mission School at Aklavik, North West Territories.

Had a great interest in botany and enrolled in Biology at the University of British Columbia, where she graduated in 1951.

Settled in Ottawa in 1967 where she received multiple awards over the years for her community service, including the Ottawa Mayor’s Award for Community Service; the Ontario Horticultural Service Award; The Rehabilitation Centre Achievement Award and the Woman of Distinction Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Taught Mathematics and English in the adult re-entry program at Algonquin College, Ottawa through the 1970s and 1980s.

Published books about her teaching experiences with all proceeds going to the Rehabilitation Centre of the Ottawa Hospital. Source.

http://famouscanadianwomen.com

http://www.ottawahort.org/yearbook2001-6.htm

http://truenorthperspective.com/Friday_10_June_2011/mary_bryant

Jeanne Lydia Branda, (Mère Marie-Thomas d’Acquin)

Educator, writer, Dominican nun

Born in France in 1877; came to Ottawa in 1914; died in Ottawa in 1963.

Was the director of the all girls’ school, l’Institut Jeanne d’Arc.

Created the magazine Revue Jeanne d’Arc which she published until 1957.

Was the founder of the Soeurs de l’Institut Jeanne d’Arc congregation in 1919 of which she was Mother Superior until 1942.

Used the pseudonym Marie Sylvia to publish her books of poetry for which she won prizes both in Canada and in France. She also received France’s highest distinction in 1956, the Légion d’honneur cross.

www.racontemoiottawa.com

Gail Beck

Child and adolescent psychiatrist

Is the Director of Youth Inpatient Psychiatry at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and serves as an OMA board member.

Has been working in children’s mental health throughout her 27 year career; recognized for her work on behalf of youth, including championing the HPV public immunization program and securing $300 million in funding to support it nation-wide.

Serves on the boards of the Canadian Medical Association, the Ontario Medical Association, and the Foundation of the National Museum of Science and Technology; is also a past president of the Ottawa Chapter of Bereaved Family of Ontario.

Was named to the Order of Ontario in 2011.

http://news.ontario.ca

www.oma.org

Amy Brandon

Jazz guitarist

Born in Charlottetown, grew up in Ottawa; now lives in Nova Scotia.

Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in music from Carleton University (Ottawa) in 2006.

Is a regular on the Maritimes jazz scene and has appeared at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival.

Her haunting melodies blend jazz, classical and folk influences.

Works as a guitar teacher and performer.

Was recently awarded a Nova Scotia Culture and Heritage grant to study in New York with leading jazz guitarist Sheryl Bailey.

www.amybrandon.ca

www.ysb.on.ca

Constance Backhouse

Professor, researcher

Holds the positions of Distinguished University Professor and University Research Chair at the University of Ottawa.

Teaches in the areas of criminal law, human rights, legal history, and women and the law.

Author of many books including De la couleur des lois : Histoire juridique du racisme au Canada, 1900-1950 (Ottawa:  University of Ottawa Press, 2010) and Her Carnal Crimes: Sexual Assault Law in Canada, 1900-1975  (Toronto: Irwin Law, 2008) and The Secret Oppression: Sexual Harassment of Working Women (Toronto: Macmillan, 1979), the first book published in Canada on the topic, and the second in North America.

Is the recipient of multiple awards honouring her work and her research including the Augusta Stowe-Gullen Affirmative Action Medal by the Southwestern Ontario Association for the Advancement of Learning Opportunities for Women, the Law Society Medal, the President’s Award by the Women and the Law Association of Ontario, the Ramon Hnatyshyn Award for Law.

Has received a series of research grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Law Foundation of Ontario, the Osgoode Society, and the Department of Justice.

In 2011, she has won the SSHRC Gold Medal for Achievement in Research.

Has served for many years as a mediator and adjudicator of human rights complaints.

Co-founded the Feminist History Society in 2009, an organization dedicated to compiling and publishing books about the history of Second Wave Canadian feminism.  www.feministhistories.ca,

Is currently writing a biography of the Hon. Madam Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dubé, as well as a cohort biography of one hundred Canadian feminist lawyers who entered the profession in the 1970s and '80s.

http://www.commonlaw.uottawa.ca/en/constance-backhouse.html

http://www.constancebackhouse.ca/

Clare Beckton

Social entrepreneur, member of the Women's Leadership Board, Harvard Kennedy School

Executive director of the Centre for Women in Politics and Public Leadership at Carleton University in Ottawa; the Centre is focused on increasing the representation of women in public leadership and politics.

Has an MPA from Harvard, an LLB, and a BA from the University of Saskatchewan.

Was the deputy head of Status of Women Canada from 2007-2009.

Has over 25 years experience leading teams and organizations to create innovative multi-sector and multinational partnerships and networks to develop policies, to provide services, to deliver programs, and to incorporate diversity, gender, and learning to assist the development of organizations through times of significant change.

Was named the Federated Press woman of the year for her leadership and recognized by the Women's Executive Network as one of Canada's most powerful women in the Trailblazers and Trendsetters category in 2008.

Is the author of several books and a number of articles on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

http://hkswomensleadershipboard.org
http://iog.ca/en/about-us/our-team/clare-beckton

Hélène Brodeur

Writer, historian of franco-ontarian culture

Born in Saint-Léon-de-Val-Racine in Québec, raised in Northern Ontario; died in Ottawa in 2010 at the age of 87.

Studied to become a teacher at the University of Ottawa and also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in 1946.

Worked as a teacher in Ottawa and a newspaper writer. Was the first woman to become the Director of Communications for the Treasury Board Secretariat.

Began her career as a writer in 1957, first by translating books for publishers, then writing for the CBC, Châtelaine, Maclean’s and Flight Magazine. Most of her writing was initially done in English but in 1977, upon her retirement from the federal civil service, she published “Les chroniques du Nouvel-Ontario” (A Saga of Northern Ontario), a historical novel about the French-Canadian presence in Northern Ontario and their role in developing that region of Canada. Went on to publish many more books about Northern Ontario and franco-ontarian culture.

Has received numerous prizes and accolades for her writing and her contribution to franco-ontarian history.

www.aefo.on.ca

http://yourlifemoments.ca
www.famouscanadianwomen.ca

Edith Buck

Headmistress of Rockliffe Prep School (later known as Elmwood)

Was assistant to Theodora Philpot, founder and headmistress of Rockliffe Prep School in 1915, and became the school's second headmistress from 1920 to 1951.

www.elmwood.ca

Jean Sutherland Boggs

Academic, art historian, civil servant

Born in Negritos, Peru.

Was appointed curator for the Art Gallery of Toronto in 1962.

Has written books about the life of Edgar Degas, including Portraits By Degas in 1962.

Was appointed the first female and fifth director of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa in 1966, and served in this position until 1976.

Was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1973 in recognition of her scholarship in art history, and the vision and energy she displayed in developing the collection and the services of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

Was chair and chief executive officer of the Canada Museums Construction Corporation from 1982 to 1985, where she was involved with the construction of both a custom-built National Gallery building and the unique Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Sutherland_Boggs

Chantal Beauvais

Rector, Saint Paul University, Ottawa

“Helping people in life’s journey from where they are to where they want to be.” - Chantal Beauvais

Became the sixth rector of Saint Paul University in Ottawa in 2009.

Born in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec.

Studied philosophy at Dominican College in Ottawa, where she earned a B.A. in Philosophy. She subsequently earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Ottawa. Also holds a Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées in public administration publique from the École nationale d'administration publique (ÉNAP).

http://www.ustpaul.ca

http://www.cpac.ca

Denise Beauchamp

Teacher, volunteer

Obtained the Prix Grandmaître 2006, for her career in teaching and 35 years of service to Ottawa's francophone youth.

Past president of Club Optimiste Jeunesse of the school Vision-Jeunesse.

Past president of the Conseil de pastorale of the Notre-Dame de Lourdes parish.

Past regional president of the Fédération des aînés et retraités francophones de l’Ontario (FAFO).

www.expressottawa.ca

Donna Brown

Soprano

Born in Ottawa in 1955.

Studied piano, voice and composition in Ottawa and at McGill University in Montreal before moving to Paris.

Made her debut in Paris as Micáela in Peter Brook's Tragedie De Carmen, a role she next sings for Opera Lyra in Ottawa.

Renowned for the floating, angelic quality of her voice, quickly became one of the leading sopranos in Europe, performing on many of the world's great opera and concert stages.

In the 2000-2001 season, appeared in an early music concert with Hervé Niquet at the Festival de Musique sacrée in Ottawa; collaborated with Pinchas Zukerman and the National Arts Centre Orchestra for a Haydn concert in the summer of 2001.

Has made over two dozen recordings.

www.bach-cantatas.com
www.scena.org

Monique Bégin

Professor emeritus, politician

Born in 1936.

Was the Executive Secretary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada (1967-1970).

First woman from Québec elected to the House of Commons (Liberal, 1972).

Was Minister of National Health and Welfare (1977-1984) and remains best known for the Canada Health Act (1984).

First holder of the Joint Chair in Women's Studies at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University in 1986.

From 1990 to 1997, was the University of Ottawa's dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and continues teaching as a professor emeritus.

Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at University of Ottawa (1990-1997), also co-chaired the Royal Commission on Learning of Ontario (1993-1994).

Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1996), received 13 honorary doctorates in recognition of her contribution to human rights and to public policies.

In 1998, she was invested as Officer of the Order of Canada.

www.uottawa.ca

Margaret Beznak

Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa

Worked in Ottawa.

Past Chair of the Department of Physiology, Vice Dean and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

Was a member of Senate and of the Board of Governors at the University of Ottawa, the first woman to act in this capacity in Canada.

Received her MD in Hungary.

Joined the University of Ottawa in 1953 and became Chair of the Department of Physiology in 1959.

Recipient of the Excellence in Research Award at the University of Ottawa in 1964.

Retired in 1979 and granted the rank of Professor Emeritus.

Passed away in 1999.

www.medicine.uottawa.ca

Linda Bouchard

Musician, composer

Worked in Ottawa, 1992-1995.

"There have been few women in powerful positions but we're at a time when women are being given a position of power. The milieu of new music is much more open." - Linda Bouchard

Born in 1957 in Val d'or, Quebec; lives in San Francisco.

Invited by musical director Trevor Pinnock to become the first composer in residence for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, 1992-1995.

Introduced a number of programs to encourage public involvement at the NAC and made great strides in bringing contemporary classical music to a wider audience.

In 1998, released CD Exquisite Fires: Music of Linda Bouchard, featuring the NAC Orchestra (selection of work commissioned during her tenure in Ottawa).

More than 50 of her compositions, ranging from pieces for orchestras and chamber groups to dance scores, concerts and vocal works, have been recorded on both sides of the Atlantic.

Nominated for a 1999 Juno Award in the Best Classical Compositions category for her NAC Orchestra-commissioned Songs for an Acrobat.

Honoured as Composer of the Year by the Conseil québécois de la musique at its 1998 Prix Opus gala.

www.musicianguide.com
www.lindabouchard.com

Lise Bourgeois

Education and Secretary-Treasurer of the Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue française du Centre-Est (CECLFCE) in Ottawa

Lives and works in Ottawa.

Named Leader of the year in the parapublic sector category by the Regroupement des gens d’affaires d’Ottawa in 2006.

Under her leadership, Catholic schools under her jurisdiction achieved the best results on Ontario provincial tests; with close to 17,000 students, the CECLFCE is the largest network of French-language Catholic schools in Canada.

She is the President of La Citécollégiale since 2010.

www.ceclf.edu.on.ca