Joyce Fairbairn facts for kids

Joyce Fairbairn (November 6, 1939 – March 29, 2022) was an important Canadian politician. She served as a senator and made history as the first woman to be the Leader of the Government in the Senate. This means she was the main representative for the ruling party in the Senate.

Early Life and Education

Joyce Fairbairn was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, in 1939. Her father was a judge and lawyer. She studied at the University of Alberta, where she earned a degree in English. Later, she went to Carleton University and got a degree in journalism. In 1967, she married Michael Charles Frederick Gillan. He passed away in 2002.

Political Career

Before entering politics, Joyce Fairbairn worked as a journalist in Ottawa. She reported on what was happening in the Canadian Parliament. In 1970, she started working for Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau as a special assistant. She later became the Communications Coordinator for his office in 1981.

Just before Prime Minister Trudeau left office in 1984, he chose Joyce Fairbairn to become a Liberal senator for her home province of Alberta. As a senator, she represented her province in the Canadian Parliament.

Fairbairn also held various roles within the Liberal Party. She was the Vice-Chair of the National and Western Liberal Caucus from 1984 to 1990. She also helped lead the Liberal Party's Election Readiness Committee in 1991.

When the Liberal Party won the 1993 election, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien gave Fairbairn a big role. He appointed her as the Government Leader in the Senate. This made her the first woman to hold this important position. She was also given a special responsibility for literacy programs across Canada. She served in these roles until 1997.

Senator Fairbairn was also involved in many Senate committees. She chaired the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. She also led the Special Senate Committee on the Anti-terrorism Act. She continued to be a member of the Agriculture and Forestry Committee until 2012.

In addition to her political work, she was the chairwoman of the Canadian Paralympic Foundation in 2006. This organization supports Canadian athletes with disabilities.

In 2012, Senator Fairbairn took a leave from the Senate due to health reasons. She later resigned from her position, with her resignation taking effect on January 18, 2013.

Later Life and Legacy

On March 11, 2018, it was announced that a new middle school in her hometown of Lethbridge, Alberta, would be named after her. The school, called Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School, opened in the fall of 2018. This was a great honour, recognizing her contributions to her community and country.

Joyce Fairbairn passed away in Lethbridge on March 29, 2022, at the age of 82.

Honours and Awards

Joyce Fairbairn received several important honours during her lifetime.

Canadian Honours

Country	Date	Appointment	Post-nominal letters
Canada	November 4, 1993 – March 29, 2022	Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada	PC
Canada	August 12, 2015 – March 29, 2022	Member of the Order of Canada	CM
Canada	1992	125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
Canada	2002	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (Canadian Version)
Canada	2012	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (Canadian Version)

Academic Honours

Location	Date	School	Degree	Gave Commencement Address
Alberta	Spring 2004	University of Lethbridge	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)	Yes