Dr. Ouida Marina Wright

DR. OUIDA MARINA WRIGHT BA, MA, PhD, FCCT January 1928 - April 2011 A driven, high-achieving educator (retired from the Ontario Ministry of Education, Toronto District School Board and Peel Board of Education) and resident of Toronto, Ontario. After a courageous three-year battle with cancer, Ouida passed away quietly surrounded by her husband and sons. Ouida was born and raised in Jamaica W.I.. Thus began a journey of advanced educational excellence that included a BA from London University (1950), an MA from McGill University (1956), and a PhD from Cornell University (1970). She has had a profound effect on the education landscape in Canada as Assistant Deputy Minister of Education for Anti-Racism, Access and Equity for Ontario, Superintendant of Curriculum with the Toronto Board of Education, Assistant Professor of Education at McGill University and School Principal with the Peel Board of Education. She was always a strong advocate for education and specifically women in science, culminating in the Canadian Women in Science Award for Curriculum Development and the Colonel Watson Award for Curriculum Development (1991). She was the recipient of many awards and recognitions for her outstanding contributions and leadership in education, including the Governor General's Medal for Proficiency in Teaching (1953), Fellow of the Canadian College of Teachers (1968), the Prime Minister's Commendation for Contribution to Education (1995), citations in 'Who's Who in Black Canada' (2002, 2006) and 'Who's Who in Canada' (2009, 2010), and The Harry Jerome Lifetime Achievement Award (2007). She has been a lifelong member of the church and has had a passion for music, literature and world travel. Ouida is survived by her spouse of 63 years Dr. Leebert Augustus Wright; three sons Clayton, Bruce (Helen), and Michael Wright; grand-daughters Brianne and Shannon and three brothers Denham, Kingsley, and Windsor Simms. Visitation will be at R.S. KANE FUNERAL HOME, 6150 Yonge Street, Toronto (at Goulding Avenue, south of Steeles Avenue West, 416-221-1159, www.rskane.ca) from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27. The funeral service will be held at FOREST GROVE UNITED CHURCH, 43 Forest Grove Drive, Toronto, Thursday, April 28 at 11:00 a.m., immediately followed by light refreshments served at the church. Afterward, interment will occur at the York Cemetery, 160 Beecroft Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Julia Viola Simms Science Scholarship, introduced by Ouida and administered by the Black Business and Professional Association (416-504-4097, www.bbpa.org). Donations may also be made to the Princess Margaret and Mount Sinai Hospitals. The family would like to thank the staff at Mount Sinai, Princess Margaret, Sunnybrook and Toronto General Hospitals, along with the Community Care Access Centres for their generous care and wonderful support.