Blanche Brillon Macdonald facts for kids
Blanche Brillon Macdonald (born May 11, 1931 – died June 8, 1985) was a Canadian Métis woman. She was born in Faust, Alberta. Her family had French and First Nations roots.
Blanche started her career by winning Miss English Bay in 1949. Later, she became very active in supporting the rights and culture of Aboriginal peoples. She also worked with many women's organizations.
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Blanche's Métis Roots and Work
Blanche Macdonald grew up in a Métis family. Being Métis in the 1930s meant working very hard to find your place in society. Blanche's Cree-speaking grandmother taught her a lot. She also saw traditional Aboriginal practices every day. This helped Blanche become a proud and strong Aboriginal woman.
In the 1960s, Blanche started to connect more with her Indigenous identity. She became very involved in the Aboriginal community in Vancouver. She joined the board of The Vancouver Indian Centre, which is now called the Friendship Centre. Blanche also worked with First Nations designers. She helped find and promote Indigenous models.
Blanche taught "Self Appreciation" classes in prisons. She worked with both men and women at Oakalla, Matsqui, and Maples Women's Prison. She was part of the United Native Nations and organized their first conference. She was also a founding member of the Professional Native Woman's Association.
Blanche was a successful businesswoman. This was at a time when it was hard for women to own businesses. She joined the First Nations women's movement. She even started a journalism program for Native students. She also created a newspaper for First Nation communities across British Columbia. For her important work, she received a Women of Distinction Award from the YWCA. This award was for her business and leadership skills. She was also the Chief Executive Officer of the Native Communications Society of B.C. Blanche was a board member for the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Modelling Association of America, and other groups.
In the 1980s, Blanche lived with her children on the Musqueam Indian Reserve. She also taught classes to Musqueam youth from her home. In 1980, she was adopted into the James Sewid Family at an Alert Bay Potlatch Ceremony.
Blanche's Early Life
Blanche Mae Brillon was born on May 11, 1931, in Faust, Alberta. Her father, John Brillon, was French. Her mother, Marie Aloysa Ouellette, was Cree Métis. Blanche was one of five children.
In 1942, her parents ended their marriage. Around 1943, Blanche, her mother, and her sister Sheila moved to Vancouver. They lived in a rooming house on Powell Street. The girls went to Strathcona School. In 1945, her mother moved them to Bremerton, Washington. There, her mother met her second husband, Charles Johnmeyer. Charles was a naval engineer. In 1945, he moved to Kodiak, Alaska.
In 1949, when Blanche was 17, she was diagnosed with TB (tuberculosis). She went to the Tranquille Sanatorium in Kamloops, BC, for treatment.
After her treatment, Blanche returned to Kodiak for about a year. At age 20, she moved back to Vancouver. At 21, she had TB again and returned to Tranquille for about another year. When she came back to Vancouver in 1952, she joined the Elizabeth Leslie modeling school. That year, Blanche was living in the West End and won the Miss English Bay Pageant. For the next two years, Blanche continued to model and work for Elizabeth Leslie.
Blanche Macdonald Institute
In 1954, Elizabeth Leslie asked Blanche to move to Edmonton. She wanted Blanche to open another branch of the school there. In Edmonton, Blanche met her husband, Jack Macdonald. Their first daughter, Alexis, was born on September 13, 1958, in Dawson Creek, BC. In 1959, the family moved to North Delta. Their second child, Allan, was born on December 8, 1959, in Surrey, British Columbia.
In 1960, the Macdonalds moved to West Vancouver. They opened their own modeling agency and fashion school, Blanche Macdonald Ltd. Her programs helped people reach their highest potential through personal growth. In the 1960s, Blanche was very busy. She organized fashion shows, gave lectures, and worked with designers. She also created special courses and started a modeling agency. She even went on a tour across Canada to promote Canadian fashion. Blanche was a leader in Vancouver's growing fashion world.
Later, Blanche sold the school to a business partner. She moved to Kodiak, Alaska, with her two children. There, she taught classes at a local department store. About 15 months later, in 1972, the family moved back to Vancouver. Blanche borrowed money and bought her school back for $800. She worked to create programs that would help women build lasting careers and become independent. The Blanche Macdonald School set new standards for education in this field.
After a three-month trip to Mexico, Blanche returned to Vancouver in 1983. She joined the board for The New Play Centre and the Woman's Network. She changed her school's name to Blanche Macdonald Institute. It had 15 full-time employees and 40 part-time teachers.
In 1985, she won the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Business and the Professions. Blanche passed away in June 1985.
The Blanche Macdonald Institute was sold in 1988. In the late 1990s, it was renamed The Blanche Macdonald Centre. The school is still open today. It has three locations in downtown Vancouver. The Blanche Macdonald Centre is a private college. It offers careers in makeup, fashion, hairstyling, and spa services. The main campus is in City Square Mall. The other two are on Robson Street in Vancouver.
Awards
- 1985: YWCA Women of Distinction Award
See also
