A life dedicated to the less fortunate
Barrie Strafford, founder of Brenda Strafford Foundation, dies at 87
Barrie Strafford, who dedicated his life to supporting seniors, homeless Calgarians and families fleeing domestic violence, has died.
He passed away peacefully at his home on Monday at the age of 87.
Born and raised in Manchester, England, Strafford moved to Alberta with his wife Brenda and the first of his four children. He made a home in Medicine Hat, where he opened a nursing home in the 1960s, before relocating to Calgary.
“He realized there was a need in the province for the elderly for a place to live,” said his daughter, Roxanne Sissons. “That’s where it started.” After Brenda died in a collision in 1974, Strafford launched the Brenda Strafford Foundation in his wife’s memory, to help the city’s less fortunate.
Through the foundation, he opened several seniors’ care centres, spaces for homeless families at Brenda’s House in partnership with Children’s Cottage, and clinics in Haiti, Jamaica and Dominica.
He also helped create the Brenda Strafford Society for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, a second-stage shelter and progressive housing for women and children fleeing family violence. Samuel Hayes, board director of the society, said the centre currently provides housing to 85 families.
“He provided leadership in the prevention of domestic violence through the provision of affordable housing that we run at the shelter, support programs, counselling services and a chair at the University of Calgary,” Hayes said. “His legacy is an inspiration to us all.”
He also supported work at the University of Calgary in geriatric medicine, Alzheimer research, aging and gerontological nursing.
Strafford received many honours for his work, including the Alberta Order of Excellence and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary.
Sissons said her father was athletic as a young man, competing in swimming and track and field, enjoying tennis, racquetball and golf, and flying his own plane.
In his later years, he joined a competitive eight-ball team with his son and grandson, racking up trophies along the way.
Above all, he was dedicated to his work, Sissons said. He showed up at his office every day until last Friday.
“He touched a lot of lives and he worked right up until the very end,” she said. “He really dedicated his life to helping those less fortunate.”
A celebration of life will take place at McInnis and Holloway, 5008 Elbow Dr. S.W., at 10 a.m. on May 6.