Helen Brimmell
1920 --- 2023
An art lover all her life and for 50 years a journalist, Helen Gertrude Bannerman-Brimmell was the only child of Dr. James G. Bannerman and Clara Holland-Bannerman, late of Owen Sound, Ontario. She was also predeceased by her beloved husband of 56 years, Richard (Dick) Brimmell, (2007). She is survived by her cherished children: her son - Richard (Andrea) and their children Andrew (Marina) of Victoria, BC and Marianne (Lee) of Vancouver, BC, and her daughter – Louise (Lynn) of Langley, BC.
She was born May 28, 1920 in Owen Sound and soon developed a love of painting and drawing and a keen interest in the news which continued all her life and led her to a career in journalism. Enrolling in English at University College, at the University of Toronto in 1939, she also joined the staff of the Varsity, then the student daily newspaper. On graduation, with summer experience at the Owen Sound Sun-Times, she joined the Toronto Bureau of The Canadian Press (CP) news service. CP sent her to Ottawa where she was the third woman to be elected a full member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Covering aspects of parliament and the war effort, she won an early news award for her account of destroyers with renowned exploits in World War II being sent to the scrap yards at Sorel, Quebec, an emotional time for our navy. After seeing service with CP in Montreal and New York and serving as city editor in Toronto she took a contract with the Royal Gazette in Hamilton, Bermuda, where she met her journalist husband.
After their return to Canada and their wedding in Owen Sound on April 14, 1951, they served on the staff of the Oshawa Time-Gazette. Dick accepted an offer from The Guelph Mercury and, in a very short time; they decided they liked Guelph so much they would move no more. Helen who had written art reviews at all of her CP postings, instituted art reviews with The Mercury, when she found that they had none. Her first was an interview was with a 22 -year-old Judith Nasby who had been named director of the University of Guelph’s art collection. She became Women’s Editor in 1970, a period when it had become politically incorrect to refer to women as such. After considerable arguing she agreed to be Family Editor. She retired in 1985 but continued to write art reviews until 1990.
She was invited to join the Guelph Creative Arts Association when she arrived in 1955 and served in many positions including president and honorary president. She was active in the Guelph Civic Museum in its founding years. She served on the founding committee of the Guelph Arts Council in 1974 and was president from 1980 to 1982. She was on the founding committee of Third Age Learning in 1985 and served on its executive. She also became a busy volunteer at the Macdonald-Stewart Art Centre (Art Gallery of Guelph), where she also sponsored two works in their sculpture park: The Bicyclist weather vane that was on the east peak of the roof and the Before Flight - the tall column topped with a bronze basket.
Helen joined the Victoria Guelph Chapter of the IODE, serving as Regent from 1992 – 1996 and continued to serve on the executive board until her passing. She was a long-time member of the Guelph Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women, the Guelph Historical Society and the Chancel Guild of St. George’s Anglican Church. From 1967 – 1975 she was public relations officer of the South Wellington Division of the Girl Guides for which she was honored with an award. From 1985-1991 she was one of three Guelph members on the board of the Grand River Conservation Foundation. The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, The Guelph Civic Museum, The Victoria Guelph Chapter of the IODE and the Guelph Creative Arts Association have all bestowed her with lifetime memberships. In 1999 she was honored by being named the YMCA-YWCA Women of the Year Distinction for Art and Culture.
On June 1, 2016, she was very honoured to be acknowledged by the House of Commons in Ottawa for having been a full member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. The honour was followed by a high tea service with the Speaker of the House. This was in connection with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Press Gallery in 1866, an event that brought her great joy.
Two years later, on June 1, 2018, she attended her 75th reunion at the University of Toronto and received her 75th anniversary medal. Earlier this year she received a medal for her 80th anniversary of graduation.
Early in 2020 she had a fall resulting in a broken hip which led to many changes in her life. Just shy of her 100th birthday she left her beloved home and the neighborhood that she adored, with all friends there that had really become a second family to her. She moved into Arbour Trails where she happily settled into condo life.
Her ongoing thirst for news of the world never waned and she was constantly on the search for interesting mystery stories (and chocolates) that were generously supplied by her dear friend Bob.
Despite being slightly inconvenienced by COVID Helen turned her attention to utilizing computer skills that included Zoom gatherings and discovering many programs on YouTube which enabled her to stay in touch with her dear friends from her Mercury and Creative Arts days.
On August 15, 2023 Helen got her final wish, that being, peacefully going into the deepest sleep never to wake. She can now rest knowing that she had a full life, that was well lived.
Her memorial service will be held at St. George’s Anglican Church in the Fall.
Flowers gratefully declined. Anyone wishing to honour Helen’s memory is invited to make a contribution to St. George’s Anglican Church or Salvation Army.
Arrangements entrusted to Brombal Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph.