Bridget Moran
Encyclopedia
Bridget Moran née Drugan, was a prominent social activist and author in British Columbia
. Born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland,
shortly after her birth her family emigrated to Success, Saskatchewan
, where she grew up.
After attending Normal School, she taught school in rural Saskatchewan until 1944 when she enlisted in the Women's Royal Canadian Service. Discharged from the Navy in 1946, she received a B.A. in Philosophy and English with Honours, graduating as a gold medalist from the University of Toronto
. She began work on a Master's Degree in History, but was unable to continue because the Department of Veterans' Affairs refused to provide financial support on the grounds that they found no women teaching in history departments in Canada.
As a result, she immigrated to British Columbia and began a career as a social worker in Prince George in November, 1951. In 1964 the provincial government suspended her, along with four other social workers, for their public criticisms of child welfare services, including an open letter to Premier W.A.C. Bennett
. She ultimately won reinstatement but was not able to work any more for the provincial Ministry of Social Services. Thereafter, she worked as a social worker for the Prince George Regional Hospital, the University of Victoria Social Work Department, and, from 1977 until 1989, for the Prince George school district.
Around the time of her retirement from the Prince George School District, she became interested in the inquest into the death of Coreen Thomas, a Carrier
Indian woman. At the inquest she met Mary John, Sr.
. In 1988, Mary John's daughter Helen Jones, asked her to write her mother's biography. Mary John told her the story of her life, resulting in the award-winning book Stoney Creek Woman. This was the beginning of her career as a writer. In addition to Stoney Creek Woman, she wrote Judgment at Stoney Creek, about the death of Coreen Thomas, A Little Rebellion, about her work with the Ministry of Social Services and Justa: A First Nations Leader, a biography of Carrier Indian leader Justa Monk.
Her book Prince George Remembered is based on oral history interviews that she began to conduct soon after her arrival in Prince George.
Moran was married for many years to Pat Moran whom she married in 1955 and with him had four children. Her daughter
Mayo Moran
is Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto.
In her later years, Moran served on the boards of the College of New Caledonia
, the Legal Services Society
of British Columbia, and the Yinka Dene Language Institute
.
She received many honors for her writing, including the Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Historical Writing from the British Columbia Historical Federation
and the Jeanne Clark Memorial Award for Local History. She was an honorary member of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. She received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Northern British Columbia (1995) and the University of Victoria (1996).
In 2003, the City of Prince George commissioned a statue of her by sculptor Nathan Scott and erected it at the intersection of Third Avenue and Québec Street.
She is remembered for having consistently fought on behalf of the weak and underprivileged.
At her memorial service in Prince George, the concluding hymn was Solidarity Forever
.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland,
shortly after her birth her family emigrated to Success, Saskatchewan
Success, Saskatchewan
-Notables:*Bridget Moran...
, where she grew up.
After attending Normal School, she taught school in rural Saskatchewan until 1944 when she enlisted in the Women's Royal Canadian Service. Discharged from the Navy in 1946, she received a B.A. in Philosophy and English with Honours, graduating as a gold medalist from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. She began work on a Master's Degree in History, but was unable to continue because the Department of Veterans' Affairs refused to provide financial support on the grounds that they found no women teaching in history departments in Canada.
As a result, she immigrated to British Columbia and began a career as a social worker in Prince George in November, 1951. In 1964 the provincial government suspended her, along with four other social workers, for their public criticisms of child welfare services, including an open letter to Premier W.A.C. Bennett
W.A.C. Bennett
William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C...
. She ultimately won reinstatement but was not able to work any more for the provincial Ministry of Social Services. Thereafter, she worked as a social worker for the Prince George Regional Hospital, the University of Victoria Social Work Department, and, from 1977 until 1989, for the Prince George school district.
Around the time of her retirement from the Prince George School District, she became interested in the inquest into the death of Coreen Thomas, a Carrier
Dakelh
The Dakelh or Carrier are the indigenous people of a large portion of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada.Most Carrier call themselves Dakelh, meaning "people who go around by boat"...
Indian woman. At the inquest she met Mary John, Sr.
Mary John, Sr.
Mary John, Sr., CM was a leader of the Carrier people of the central interior of British Columbia in Canada. She was known as "Mary John, Sr." to distinguish her from her daughter-in-law, also named Mary John...
. In 1988, Mary John's daughter Helen Jones, asked her to write her mother's biography. Mary John told her the story of her life, resulting in the award-winning book Stoney Creek Woman. This was the beginning of her career as a writer. In addition to Stoney Creek Woman, she wrote Judgment at Stoney Creek, about the death of Coreen Thomas, A Little Rebellion, about her work with the Ministry of Social Services and Justa: A First Nations Leader, a biography of Carrier Indian leader Justa Monk.
Her book Prince George Remembered is based on oral history interviews that she began to conduct soon after her arrival in Prince George.
Moran was married for many years to Pat Moran whom she married in 1955 and with him had four children. Her daughter
Mayo Moran
Mayo Moran
Mayo Moran , a native of the Canadian province of British Columbia and daughter of author Bridget Moran and Pat Moran, has been Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Toronto since January 1, 2006, the first ever female dean of the Faculty of Law. She replaced former dean Ronald J...
is Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto.
In her later years, Moran served on the boards of the College of New Caledonia
College of New Caledonia
The College of New Caledonia is a post-secondary educational institution that serves the residents of the Central Interior of British Columbia. The college was established in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada in 1969 as a successor to the BC Vocational School. The first convocation of 37...
, the Legal Services Society
Legal Services Society
The Legal Services Society is the legal aid provider in British Columbia, Canada. Its mission is to provide innovative and collaborative legal aid services that enable people with low incomes to effectively address their issues within the justice system....
of British Columbia, and the Yinka Dene Language Institute
Yinka Dene Language Institute
The Yinka Dene Language Institute is an organization based in Stoney Creek, British Columbia, whose purpose is the study and maintenance of the language and culture of Dakelh and other First Nations people in northern British Columbia.-History:...
.
She received many honors for her writing, including the Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Historical Writing from the British Columbia Historical Federation
British Columbia Historical Federation
The British Columbia Historical Federation encourages interest in the history of British Columbia through research, presentation, and support.The Federation provides a collective voice for its member societies....
and the Jeanne Clark Memorial Award for Local History. She was an honorary member of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. She received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Northern British Columbia (1995) and the University of Victoria (1996).
In 2003, the City of Prince George commissioned a statue of her by sculptor Nathan Scott and erected it at the intersection of Third Avenue and Québec Street.
She is remembered for having consistently fought on behalf of the weak and underprivileged.
At her memorial service in Prince George, the concluding hymn was Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
"Solidarity Forever", written by Ralph Chaplin in 1915, is perhaps the most famous union anthem. It is sung to the tune of "John Brown's Body" and is inspired by "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". Although it was written as a song for the Industrial Workers of the World , other union movements,...
.