Former British Columbia politician Grace McCarthy has been remembered as a champion of a province she loved, but it was kindness that set her apart in a remarkable career that paved a path for women in politics and business.
The Social Credit cabinet minister nicknamed 害羞草研究所淎mazing Grace害羞草研究所� died on May 24 after a lengthy battle with a brain tumour.
She was 89.
An emotional Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon told a packed Christ Church Cathedral on Wednesday that McCarthy started her own floral shop at age 17 and her business acumen helped her turn it into a successful chain of five stores.
Guichon noted McCarthy was elected to the park board in 1960 and then went into provincial politics, holding several cabinet posts including human resources, economic development and tourism.
害羞草研究所淕race was the first female deputy premier in this nation as well as president of the B.C. Social Credit party,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淎s party president Grace worked tirelessly to build the Social Credit brand after their 1972 defeat. And although many said it couldn害羞草研究所檛 be done, she did it. She rebuilt from 5,000 to 70,000 members by sheer determination and hard work.害羞草研究所�
The program handed out to guests at the service included a poem that seemed to epitomize her spirit. Called 害羞草研究所淚t Couldn害羞草研究所檛 Be Done,害羞草研究所� it was given to McCarthy by former premier W.A.C. Bennett.
害羞草研究所淭here are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, there are thousands to prophesy failure 害羞草研究所� just strap in to sing as you tackle the thing that 害羞草研究所榗annot be done害羞草研究所� and you害羞草研究所檒l do it.害羞草研究所�
flags flying at half-mast until sunset today, day of the funeral of the late Grace McCarthy, OC, OBC, former MLA and Deputy Premier
害羞草研究所� BC Legislature (@BCLegislature)
McCarthy害羞草研究所檚 biggest accomplishments included initiating the process to bring Expo 86 to Vancouver, starting the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, establishing SkyTrain and setting up Canada害羞草研究所檚 first toll-free help line for abused children.
After two unsuccessful runs for party leader, McCarthy succeeded in leading the now-defunct party in 1993.
When she retired from politics, McCarthy raised funds for research to help children with Crohn害羞草研究所檚 disease and ulcerative colitis. She co-founded a foundation that raised $30 million and also created a Canada-wide network for children with inflammatory bowel disease.
McCarthy害羞草研究所檚 daughter Mary Parsons said her mother had a tremendous sense of humour, treated everyone as an equal and valued good manners.
害羞草研究所淲hen I was very young and my mother decided to run for politics, she made a promise to me: She would quit if all the meetings she had to go to got too much for me or just because of anything I could think up,害羞草研究所� Parson said.
害羞草研究所淢y mom attended every school function there was, albeit late sometimes. And we never talked about her promise again. Nearly 30 years after that conversation, I did tell her I wanted to quit. Lo and behold, the next morning she did. She always kept her promises.害羞草研究所�
Parsons said demonstrators would sometimes be outside the family home but her mother befriended them even though someone once dumped a pile a manure in the yard.
害羞草研究所淪he was going to have the absolute best garden, thanks to him.害羞草研究所�
Premier Christy Clark called McCarthy an inspiration to women through the decades.
害羞草研究所淚n the 1960s and 70s and 80s we didn害羞草研究所檛 see so many women on television and in the world who were making a difference at the highest levels of government. And Grace was there. She was the walking, talking proof that women could aspire to anything.害羞草研究所�
Brian Smith, who served in the Social Credit cabinet with McCarthy in the 1980s, said after the service that she 害羞草研究所渞adiated a positive energy, always.害羞草研究所�
He said he last saw McCarthy across a downtown street three or four years ago and that she ran across to give him a hug.
McCarthy was a member of the Order of British Columbia, served in the legislature from 1975 to 1988 and, in 1975, became the first woman in Canada to serve as deputy premier.
She was predeceased by her son Calvin in 2009 and leaves behind her husband Ray, her daughter, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Camille Bains, The Canadian Press
