Margaret Alberta Phillips

1931 - 2015

(1931-2015)


Respected feminist and social justice advocate, Margaret Phillips, passed


away on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at the Thunder Bay Regional Health


Sciences Centre. Margaret was born on April 12, 1931 to Albert and Daisy


Phillips in Ottawa. When her parents died young, she was supported by loving


family members, her aunt Janet Riley and cousins Margaret and Ruth Fuller,


all of whom have predeceased her. Margaret's first career choice was in the


field of Recreation. She became the first woman in Canada to be appointed an


Arena Manager (Iroquois Falls, (1957-60) and whilst Recreation Director in


Kenora (1960-67), she was elected the first woman President of the Society


of Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario. In 1965, the Anishnawbe


Grand Council Treaty #3 formally acknowledged Margaret's efforts, placing


her name on their Honour Roll for her participation in the historic Anti-racism March to Kenora City Hall in that year. From 1971-81 Margaret served as the Executive Director of the Lakehead Social Planning Council, advocating for a wide range of community services including HAGI Transit, the Castlegreen Housing Co-op, and regional daycare programmes. In 1973 she was part of the Collective that founded the Thunder Bay Women's Centre. From 1982-92 she was a member of the Northern Woman's Journal Collective, the 2nd longest-running feminist newspaper in Canada. In 1984 Margaret and Anna


McColl co-founded the Northern Woman's Bookstore, the only remaining woman's bookstore in Canada. In 2008 she was honoured with the Kouhi Award by the Northwestern Ontario Writers' Workshop for her outstanding contribution to writing in Northwestern Ontario. Between 1984 and 1997 Margaret was involved in the work of Inter Pares, a Canadian NGO which works with partner organizations around the world on social justice issues. She helped to shape its deep commitment to the principles of equality and nurturing of women's leadership. Margaret travelled internationally in support of its goals.


Margaret also served as a board member of the Canadian Council on Social


Development and the Ontario Welfare Council. In recognition of her contributions to social justice and to the literary community of Northwestern Ontario Margaret was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Lakehead


University at its Convocation, earlier this year. Margaret could not have


lived an independent life in her final years without the support of


Elizabeth Hutchison, NP and Karen Greenfield, RN at Norwest Community Health Centres (Ogden site) and Louise and Janet from Bayshore. They were trusted and loving caregivers. Terry Fossum, Maryanne Lanktree and Johnny Dampier supported her throughout the years. Dr. T. Czolpinski was more than her cardiologist, he became her advocate and trusted advisor. Margaret is


survived by her great-niece, Patricia Olmsted, resident of Luskville,


Quebec. The members of the Bookstore Collective, the staff, volunteers,


writing and reading group members and women past and present grieve the loss of Margaret Phillips, a guiding spirit. Her legacy is a feminist flame that


can never be extinguished. In accordance with Margaret's wishes a


celebration of her life will take place on January 16, 2016. A notice will


be published when arrangements have been finalized. When asked by the


Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre to give a piece of advice to young


feminists, Margaret recommended "develop your analysis, learn your history


and always keep reading". At the Convocation ceremony for her doctorate she


reaffirmed her view by urging all present to "Read a book - even better,


read a real book".


Online condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com