We are sad to announce the passing of former Editors Canada president Barbara Hehner. Barbara was a key member of the group that founded the association in the late 1970s, and the association we have today reflects her vision. She died in Owen Sound, Ontario, on Sunday, August 12.
Barbara Hehner and her husband, Eric Zweig, at the wedding of Editors Canada member Greg Ioannou on October 24, 1992.
Barbara was born in Montreal and spent much of her childhood with her military family in Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Churchill, Manitoba. She earned degrees from Carleton University, the University of Toronto and York University.
She began her career as a junior editor in Toronto before going on to author many children’s books, including The Spirit of Canada: Canada’s Story in Legends, Fiction, Poems, and Songs and the Ice Age animals series.
In the 1980s, Barbara entered into a partnership with environmentalist and broadcaster David Suzuki on an award-winning science series for children. Together they wrote six children’s science and activity books, starting with Looking at Plants.
A funeral will be held at Beth Ezekiel Synagogue in Owen Sound on Wednesday, August 15. A Shiva observance will take place at the synagogue on the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday. Barbara’s family and friends will observe three days of Shiva in Toronto at 65 Skymark Drive (Finch and Don Mills area), apartment 1502, from Sunday to Tuesday.
Barbara’s family has requested that no flowers be sent. In lieu of flowers, friends and colleagues are asked to make a donation to any of the following:
Beth Ezekiel Synagogue
313 11th Street East
Owen Sound ON N4K 1V1
Owen Sound and North Grey Union Library
824 1st Avenue West
Owen Sound N4K 4K4
Grey Bruce Health Services Owen Sound
1800 8th Street East
Owen Sound N4K 6M9
Grey Bruce Animal Shelter
457437 8th Concession
Municipality of Meaford