Shirley WRIGHT

WRIGHT, Shirley Elizabeth
(nee Ellison)
Shirley Elizabeth Wright, was born in Vancouver, August 25, 1928 and attended elementary and high school in the Marpole neighbourhood. She made friends with some of the Japanese girls whose families also lived nearby before their forcible removal from the area. Her lifelong interest in books and learning began with a shelving position in the nearby branch of the Vancouver Public Library, and ended with her earning a Master of Librarianship degree from the Library School in Seattle, Washington where she also worked in a branch of the public library before accepting a position as Children's Librarian in the New Westminster Public Library. There she also became the Deputy Chief Librarian. She was there for fourteen years before accepting an offer from the newly established School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta in 1969 where she taught courses in Public Librarianship, Children's Literature and Storytelling, the latter two courses being popular with students from the nearby College of Education.
With a strong affection for pets, she became active in the local, provincial, and national canine societies and won prizes for her dogs: Jasper, Cutter, and Stitch. She was also active in the Edmonton Community Family Services and the Friends of Edmonton Public Library where she organized the Edmonton Public Library Book Sales. She also served as Chair of the McDougall and Garneau United Churches.
She and her husband moved from their home on 116 Street near the University to the Ashbourne Place for assisted living in 2016. She died on August 28, 2017.
A memorial service will be held for Shirley at Garneau United Church, 11148 84 Avenue NW, Edmonton, on Wednesday, September 6, at 2:00 p.m.