Marion Boyd, Ontario’s first feminine and non-lawyer attorney general, has died at age 76.
Remembered for her feminism and progressive social agenda, those that knew Boyd say she was forward of her time and had a deep sense of public service.
Boyd was elected as a New Democrat MPP in London when Bob Rae’s authorities swept to energy in 1990. She defeated David Peterson, premier at the time, and earned the nickname “large killer.”
“I believe everybody acknowledged the character and high quality of her work, her work ethic, her intelligence and caring. She’s actually a beautiful human being,” mentioned Terence Kernaghan, NDP MPP for London North Centre.
“She’s very a lot an individual who’s guided by her religion. She strongly believed in utilizing all of the instruments at her disposal to assist others, and she or he was recognized for utilizing her mediating expertise for folk throughout the religion group in addition to as a legislator. She was a very good listener.”
‘A really sturdy girl’
Boyd moved to London in 1981 and labored as government director of what was then generally known as the London Battered Women’s Advocacy Clinic, now the London Abused Women’s Centre. She was additionally on the London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse and a board member at the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre, which helps newcomers and refugees to Canada.
“She was a really sturdy girl, articulate, nicely spoken, competent,” mentioned David Winninger, who was additionally elected in London to serve in Rae’s authorities and is a lawyer.
Boyd was dedicated to her daughter, who died in 2017 after residing with a number of sclerosis.
“She was a really sharp-minded colleague, and I believe the caucus held her in excessive regard, as did Premier Rae, who appointed her to completely different positions alongside the best way,” Winninger mentioned.
Boyd served in numerous cupboards and put ahead a bill, though defeated, that will have given nearly equal rights to same-sex {couples} as common-law spouses.
“She was at all times very clear, in favour of human rights, bringing dignity to ladies that had been left behind, in addition to employment fairness and pay fairness,” Winninger mentioned.
Remained energetic with the church
Boyd was a lady forward of her time in some ways, Kernaghan mentioned.
“Ontario’s NDP owes her for what she’s finished, and we’re capable of proceed to champion the issues that she would have championed as nicely,” he mentioned.
“When she noticed one thing that was unfair or unjust, she was capable of communicate up about it. She wished to look out for others and at all times wished to do the suitable factor.”
According to her obituary, Boyd retired to her household’s lake home in Inverhuron and remained energetic within the Kincardine United Church.
“She undertook research and have become a licensed lay worship chief after which spent many hours planning providers and writing sermons, fairly often with a deal with post-colonialism and the trauma inflicted on Indigenous communities,” her obituary states. “Her dedication to reality and reconciliation was steadfast.”