Barry Alexander FOWLIE

BARRY ALEXANDER FOWLIE Suddenly, November 13, 2021 at his Guelph home. Barry leaves behind his children Alicia Fowlie (late Christopher Brendan Thompson), Olwen Fowlie, Sheumais Hyland-Fowlie (Nada Wadi) and their children, Yara, Yahya and Isaaq Hyland-Fowlie, Vanessa Hyland (partner of 40 years), mother Mary, sisters Mary Lyn Kidd, Alexis (Dan) Fortier and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by father, Alexander, and infant brother, James. A lifelong Guelphite, Barry co-founded Strangeland Variety and Bookstore and the Alive Production Collective. He helped write, produce and distribute both Alive Magazine (a forum for anti-imperialist Canadian culture and history) and Guelph News Service Bulletin (documented local working-class struggles). His activism led to union leadership roles at Owen's Corning, affiliated with UNITE (Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees) and the Guelph and District Labour Council. Through union training he gained expertise in workers compensation and his dedication was recognized when hired as UNITE's Canadian Education Director, a position continued after the merger of UNITE and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) in 2004 and then the formation of Workers United in 2009 by former UNITE members dissatisfied with the amalgamated union. In 2011 he was elected Director of Workers United Canada Council and led the union until his death. He was especially committed to helping workers in hard-to-organize sectors join unions, such as Workers United's organizing efforts at Ontario GoodLife Fitness, Winnipeg's fast food outlets and Canada Goose. The Ontario Federation of Labour released a website tribute. A virtual memorial will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021. For details: Workers United Canada Council website. Donations to Workers Arts and Heritage Centre or Ontario Network of Injured Workers deeply appreciated.