Joyce Fairbairn
Joyce Fairbairn was a prominent Canadian politician and journalist, born on November 6, 1939, in Lethbridge, Alberta. She made history as the first woman to lead the government side in the Senate of Canada after her appointment by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau on June 29, 1984. Fairbairn's early career included significant roles in journalism, including work with the Lethbridge Herald and United Press International, before transitioning into politics as a legislative assistant to Trudeau in 1970. Her commitment to literacy earned her recognition, leading to her appointment as Minister with Special Responsibility for Literacy and the establishment of the Joyce Fairbairn, PC Literacy Public Awareness Award in her honor.
In addition to her political achievements, she was involved with the Canadian Paralympics, founding Friends of the Paralympics and serving as chair of the Canadian Paralympic Foundation. Despite facing health challenges later in life, she continued her Senate responsibilities until her resignation in 2013. Fairbairn passed away on March 29, 2022, at the age of 82, leaving a legacy that includes the Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School, named in her honor in her hometown.
Subject Terms
Joyce Fairbairn
- Born: November 6, 1939
- Place of Birth: Lethbridge, Alberta
- Died: March 29, 2022
- Place of Death: Lethbridge, Alberta
Contribution: Joyce Fairbairn was appointed a senator representing Lethbridge, Alberta, in the Senate of Canada on June 29, 1984. She was appointed by former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau and was the first woman to lead the government side in the Senate.
Early Life and Education
Joyce Fairbairn was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, on November 6, 1939. She earned her bachelor of arts in English in 1960 from the University of Alberta and a journalism degree from Carleton University in 1961.
Early Career
Fairbairn began her career as a journalist while at university, working during summer breaks at the Lethbridge Herald. After completing her degree in journalism in 1961, she remained in Ottawa and worked for the Ottawa Journal. In 1962 she began working for the United Press International bureau in the parliamentary press gallery. Two years later she went to work for the parliamentary bureau of FP Publications.
Political Career
Fairbairn was appointed legislative assistant to Prime Minister Trudeau in 1970. She remained in this post for fourteen years until her appointment to the Senate. She also worked as the communications coordinator in the prime minister’s office from 1981 until 1983.
Trudeau appointed Fairbairn a senator representing Lethbridge in the province of Alberta on June 29, 1984. That same year she also became vice chair of the national Liberal caucus and the northern and western Liberal caucuses. She held this position until 1990, and in 1991 she became co-chair of the Liberal Party of Canada’s National Election Readiness Committee. When she was elected to the cabinet in 1993, she became the first female leader of the government in the Senate.
Literacy was an important issue for Fairbairn, and she began a literacy campaign in Canada in 1987. She was named minister with special responsibility for literacy in 1993 and was appointed special adviser on literacy to the minister of human resources development in 1997. The ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation established an award in her name: the Joyce Fairbairn, PC Literacy Public Awareness Award, or the Joycee, for short.
Fairbairn received an honorary doctorate of laws in 2005 from the University of Lethbridge, where she also served on the university’s senate. She is an honorary colonel of the 18th Air Defence Regiment and honorary president of the Association of Canadian Clubs. Fairbairn also founded Friends of the Paralympics to raise money for the Paralympics and chaired the Canadian Paralympic Foundation; in 2011 she was inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Hall of Fame for her contributions to the games.
In February 2012 Fairbairn was declared legally incompetent because of advancing Alzheimer disease. She continued participating in Senate activities until that August, when she took an extended leave of absence. The senator’s fitness to perform her duties during those intervening months became the subject of much debate when news of her deterioration became public. That November Fairbairn offered her resignation, effective January 18, 2013.
A new middle school in her home town was named the Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School in her honor upon its completion in 2018.
Fairbairn died on March 29, 2022, in Lethbridge, Alberta. She was eighty-two.
Personal Life
Joyce Fairbairn was married to Mike Gillan, who died in 2002 at age sixty-three.
Bibliography
Canadian Press. “Alzheimer’s-Afflicted Liberal Sen. Joyce Fairbairn Resigns, Effective Jan. 18.” Ottawa Citizen. Postmedia Network, 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.
Ditchburn, Jennifer. “Joyce Fairbairn Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: Friends, Colleagues Defend Liberal Senator’s Choice to Work.” Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.
“Fairbairn, The Hon. Joyce, P.C., B.A., B.J.” Parliament of Canada. Library of Parliament, n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.
"Former Canadian senator Joyce Fairbairn dead at 82." CBC News, 30 Mar. 2022, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/joyce-fairbairn-lethbridge-canada-1.6402106. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.
“The Hon. Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., B.A., B.J.” Liberal Senate Forum. Liberal Caucus in the Senate, 2008. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.
“Joyce Fairbairn.” Celebrating Women’s Achievements. Library and Archives of Canada, 16 Sept. 2010. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.
Rabson, Mia. “Senate’s Dementia Case Raises Questions.” Winnipeg Free Press 4 Sept. 2012: A8. Print.
"Senator Joyce Fairbairn." Martin Brothers Funeral Chapel, 2022, www.mbfunerals.com/obituary/SenatorJoyce-Fairbairn. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.