Barbara A. Chisholm
Social worker, child advocate, teacher, writer. Born on May 30, 1924, in Boston; died on June 14, 2015, in Toronto, of natural causes, aged 91.
Every once in a while, a unique individual emerges in a profession and makes a real difference. Such a person was Barbara Chisholm.
Barbara was a true New Englander. She remembered her fathering taking her to Boston Red Sox games where she saw legendary hitter Ted Williams. And she developed a sense of social justice that became an integral part of her professional career and personal life.
After graduating in social work from Boston's Simmons College, one of her first jobs was in New Hampshire, working for the equivalent of a Children's Aid Society. Armed with a degree but little practical experience, she recalled being tested by rural residents who were suspicious of this "city girl." One time, while on a visit to a client family, a newborn calf, still wet from the birth, was landed in her lap. She didn't flinch, and earned the family's trust. Typical Barbara!
In her 20s, Barbara decided to move to Canada on her own and took a job in Toronto as a social worker. Her father wasn't impressed by the move, as he considered the city a backward British colony; he was only slightly mollified when she reassured him that there was indoor plumbing
Her passion was children and advocating for their best interests, particularly in custody situations. She became a sought-after expert witness, appearing before judges and writing briefs that were articulate, thoughtful and fair. She also wrote position papers on policy and articles for the Ontario Association of Social Workers' newsletter.
Barbara was a key contributor in the campaign to achieve statutory regulation of social work in Ontario, a process that succeeded after 10 years, seven social services ministers and three governments. She always stressed the need for professional education and training, and considered it an immense privilege to be entrusted with people's lives in a quest to help people resolve their problems and to seek justice for the oppressed.
Barbara had a private clinical social work practice for many years, for a while in a partnership in a company called Chisholm, Gafni & Block, and then on her own. She enjoyed helping individuals, children, couples and families learn to resolve difficulties and to grow.
She was also a gifted educator in social work; she mentored many students and won teaching awards at George Brown College in Toronto and McMaster University in Hamilton. In 1994, she was honoured with the Ontario government's Distinguished Service Award for her work with the Ontario Association of Social Workers, presented by then-lieutenant governor Hal Jackman. It was one of her proudest moments.
Barbara was interested in everything from music (especially symphonies and opera) to her beloved Toronto Blue Jays, for whom there was no bigger an. She travelled widely including the Galapagos Islands, and was an animated storyteller upon her return. She criss-crossed Canada and the United States, even to remote regions of the Far North, delivering workshops on a variety of children's issues.
When her health was failing in her later years, her optimism and determination shone through. She read voraciously, especially biographies, looked after her cats and kept abreast of the news. She so enjoyed discussing the politics of the day and was never shy about sharing her opinions. Her loyalty, wit, intelligence and compassion is sorely missed.
Dan Andreae, Gillian McCloskey and Leona Chase are colleagues and long-time friends of Barbara's.