Rosemary Ganley is a ‘treasure trove’

If there ever was a way to capture the essence of community advocacy, activism, kindness and intellect, it is encapsulated in Rosemary Ganley, a community treasure trove.

Her bountiful columns in the Peterborough Examiner champion multiple acts of kindness in our community and celebrate people and organizations busy lifting lives.

With equal zeal, she tackles hate and bigotry, berating extremists recklessly taking our democracy to the brink. Columns crafted by her inquiring mind carry her signature of trust in the goodness of all.

During a lifetime of adventure, curiosity and service, Rosemary has worked in Africa and the Caribbean. Jamaican Self-Help, the NGO she and husband John created, has impacted innumerable lives locally and abroad. Her reach includes steadfast commitment to Amnesty International.

In 2018, she served on the prime minister’s G7 Gender Equality Advisory Board and was a recipient of the YMCA Peace Award. A global feminist, Rosemary arrived with the Peterborough delegation, joining 40,000 of us at the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference declaring “Women’s Rights are Human Rights.”

As the author of Jamaican Journal, Positive Community, Gleanings and Groundings, and former co-editor of Catholic New Times, she taught at high school and university.

In recognition of her indelible impact overseas and at home, Trent University bestowed upon Rosemary an honorary doctorate in law.

Countless lives, mine included, have been enriched, inspired, and forever changed by her friendship. Here’s praise for one of our community’s brightest lights!

Enjoy Rosemary’s engaging Examiner columns, but be prepared to be challenged! Her humanitarian spirit relentlessly defends human rights and calls upon our best character to rise up and help craft a better world. Dr. Betsy McGregor, C.M., Douro-Dummer