|
Famous Canadian women
Marie-Madelaine Jarret de Verchères.
Born Verchères, Quebec March 3, 1678. Died August 8, 1747. The young Madelaine would become one of Canada's first youth heroes when she, with only a handful of helpers, would successfully defend the family fort against attack. Her exploits have been written in several books including HerStory by Susan Merritt.
Barbara G. Stymiest
Born June 13, 1956. This businesswoman was the Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Nesbit Burns Inc. from 1992 to 1999. It was during this time that she was the first woman to be Governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange. In 1999 she became President of the Toronto Stock Exchange! In 2000 she was on the top 10 list of Canadian businesswomen presented by the National Post.
Céline Dion
Born March 30, 1968. She is an internationally known recording artist and superstar. She began performing with her family when she was only five years old. Her first song, composed when she was 12, caught the eye of René Angelil who financed the recording. Her career advanced with the Gold Medal at the Yamaha World Song Festival in 1982. There was no looking back. She became the first Canadian singer to receive a Gold Record in France. She recorded the sound track for Disney's Beauty and the Beast which won an Academy Award and a Grammy Award. Other movie hit songs have been in Sleepless in Seattle and Titanic. She is a member of the Order of Canada.
Claudia Kerckhoff-van Wijk
She proved herself a worthy competitor in a male dominated sport by holding the Canadian Women’s Whitewater Kayaking Championship position from 1974-1984. She was the first woman and the youngest competitor to participate in the grueling ten sections of the Coureurs des bois gold category in the Canadian Ski Marathon. She now owns and operates Madawaska Kanu Centre which is the first kayak and canoe school in North America.
Helen Battles Hogg-Priestley (née Sawyer)
Born in Lowell, Massachusetts on August 1, 1905, Helen was an astronomer and teacher at the University of Toronto. She was nominated professor emeritus in 1976. A world expert who received numerous honors including being a Companion in the Order of Canada, she took her profession to radio and TV in a clear and understandable manner for all listeners. She wrote a book, “The Stars Belong to Everyone.” For her efforts to bring information to the public she was the first person to win the Klumpke-Roberts Award and she is also the only Canadian woman to have a minor planet (#2917) named after her! She died January 28, 1993.
|
