Brenna BROWN

BRENNA VANORA BROWN It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Brenna on January 13, 2021. Brenna was a force: wife, mother, grandmother, artist, classical music lover, author, tennis club champion, education advocate, environmental activist, Justice of the Peace, community leader, volunteer. Brenna came from hardscrabble roots, born in Vancouver to Scottish immigrants during the great depression, nothing was taken for granted. Her mother passed when Brenna was nine, she spent time in foster care, and then was forced to drop out of high school in grade 9 to support her family. She scraped together money to put herself through art school. She refused to let early setbacks define her. In 1953, she followed her brother, Fergus to Toronto, landing a dream gig in the art department at the CBC. In 1961, she married Jeremy Brown and they set out to start a family they dreamed of. Stephanie (Christopher), Karl (Leta) and Jonathan (Tanya) soon followed. Their west Toronto home was bubbling with a stream of dinner guests and parties, Brenna cooked magnificent meals. There was also a legion of kids in and out of the back door. Everyone was fed, entertained, hugged and loved. She welcomed those in distress, took in frail family members and helped ease their final days; our home was a safe port for all, especially those in need. A lifelong learner, Brenna took up classical guitar, become a club tennis champ, developed a beguiling backhand and co-wrote a number of nonfiction books. She was versatile. With the kids out of school they retreated to the rolling hills of Goodwood; gardening, more tennis and new friends, living what she says were the happiest years of her life. Embracing a new community, she helped form an environmental group, PACT, to fight the mega landfill that Toronto was planning in the now greenbelt. She was not a flag waving attention seeker, but a strategist behind the scenes, crafting press releases that kept pressure on politicians to act. It worked and the Brock South lands remain a beautiful greenspace for all to enjoy. This activism led to her opus moment; at age 55, with no legal experience, she was called to the bench as a Justice of the Peace. She studied tirelessly and put heart into her new career. Always an advocate, she started a newsletter for JP's pushing for reforms to a justice system that was lagging behind societies needs. At 70 Brenna was forced to retire as per provincial legislation. Undeterred she fought this, becoming one of three test cases, they sued the government to extend the mandatory retirement age to 75, in line with all other judiciaries in Canada. Her Worship went back to work, later stepping away on her terms. The subsequent years were challenging, caring for Jeremy with late-stage Parkinsons. Her final chapter was indulging her grand children in their Whitby home; Hunter, Katie, Gemma, William and Nicholas will miss her dearly. She was fun, we laughed, we played, we laughed more. Declining health left her in a wheelchair, yet with dignity intact and an indomitable spirit, she continued to make new friends, attending hockey games, recitals, dinners and events. With Brenna, the most important thing was respect. Every person, regardless of who they were, deserved respect. She didn't just talk it, she lived it. And we are all richer for it. .

An academic award has been created in Brenna's honour at the new Ryerson University Law School. www.ryerson.ca/law/giving/