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AUTUMN
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EARLY WINTER
2015
BarbaraWeider, a remarkably,wonderfulwoman, wasapassionatechampion for thearts,
incredibly intelligent anddedicated to sincerelymakingadifference to the livesof countlessothersduringher life.
BarbaraWeiderdiedathomesurroundedbyher familyonSeptember20, 2015.
Shewill be rememberedalways forher indeliblecontributions toourCommunity.
Barbara JeanWeider, nee Smith, was born in San Francisco in 1937. An
only child, she was educated by nuns until high school in San Jose and
thenwent on to college and then tograduate studies at University of Cal-
ifornia, Berkeley, where shemet her husband George.
Together with George she travelled in Europe in 1964 and spent a year
withhim in the Soviet Unionwhere hewas studyingRussianhistory. She
accompaniedGeorge to TorontoandYorkUniversitywhereGeorge taught
Russian and European history in the late 1960s. In 1971, following the
death of George’s father Jozo, founder of Blue Mountain, the couple
moved to Blue Mountain and took up residence in the family home at
the foot of the ski area.
While raising her son and daughter, Barbara brought her enthusiasm,
abilityand charisma toa remarkablearrayof volunteer duties promoting
thearts in thearea. In 1974 she founded theBlueMountainArts Council,
later absorbed into the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, and she
organizedamajor national literaryevent, TheGreat CanadianPoetry Fes-
tival.
Another great passionwas Theatre Collingwood, which Barbara founded
and helped manage. The organization recently celebrated its 30th an-
niversary, with a gala event honouring Barbara.
After raising her children, Barbara embarked on a long and successful
career asmanager of the Georgian Triangle Economic Development Cor-
poration, providing counsellingand financing to small business start-ups.
Full time work did not prevent Barbara from continuing to pursuemany
volunteer activities inarts andeducation. Shewas drivenby theexamples
of her father and father-in-law. Her father Adam Smith was 17 when he
lied about his age and enlisted in the US Marine Corps and was one of
three survivors in his company in a terrible battle in World War I. This
made Barbara feel fortunate to be born and keen to give back. She also
admired George’s father Jozo and was determined to continue Jozo’s
legacy in supportingGeorgianCollege. She servedon theGeorgianCollege
Board of Governors andwas a tireless champion of the establishment of
a Georgian learning centre in Collingwood. When the opportunity came
she co-chaired with Peter Hodgson a major fund raising drive and was
delightedwhen the campus was opened in 2013.
In2004 and2005Barbara tookmuch deserved time off to return to her
academic interests and pursue graduate work in English literature at
McGill UniversityandUniversityof Toronto. In2005 sheearnedher second
MA, this one fromU of T. She then returned to her volunteer endeavours
in the Collingwood area and continued to be a leader in arts, education
and theatre, as well as a generous contributor to many charities and
causes.
Barbara earned many honours during her lifetime, including the Order
andCompanionof theOrder of Collingwoodand theQueen’s JubileeMedal.
Barbara was the first woman President of the Collingwood Chamber of
Commerce andwas a keen participant in a host of programs in pursuit of
training, economic development and arts and culture in the area.
Barbara was a loving and wonderful mother to Katherine, born in 1969
andMichael, born in 1970. She is survivedbyher husbandGeorge; daugh-
ter and sonKatherineandMichael; daughter-in-lawKateMcCartney; son-
in-law, John Roos; brothers-in-law, Gord Canning, Josef Marik and Don
McGillivray; sister-in-lawHelenMcGillivray; grandchildrenHannah, Sophie,
Cece and Jozo; nieces and nephews Andrea Canning, Alec, James and
GillianMcGillivray; Tessa and TonyMarik.
Barbarawas a soulmateand cheerleader for her husbandGeorge, initially
President and later Chairman of Blue Mountain Resorts. Barbara had
many friends and associates who admired her passionate dedication to
community service, organizational ability, skills in leadership, keen in-
tellect, flair for the dramatic and kindness for all who crossed her path.
She will be greatlymissed by all who knew her.
The familywishes to thank the health care providers who supported Bar-
bara inher last fewmonths. Especially helpful wereDrs. KateMcLachlin,
Sarah Rask, and Kenneth Logue, numerous nurses at St. Elizabeth, the
Pharmacists at IDA and two kind and tender caregivers Sylvia Bradbury
and Elaine Wigle-Kratz. Barbara was an honourary member of the Lau-
reate EpsilonPi Sorority; The sorority sisters providedgreat sympathy, as
did the Reading Club andmany associates and friends.
Barbarawas interred inaprivate family ceremony in theAll Saints ceme-
tery, in close proximity to the newGeorgian College learning centre that
she did somuch to bring about.
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