Shirley Carr

Shirley Carr, labour activist and recipient of an honorary degree from Brock University, has died.

Carr, of Niagara Falls, was the first female president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). She led the 2.3-million member congress from 1986 to 1992 after serving 12 years prior as its executive vice-president.

She was active at the international level as well, including receiving Venezuela’s prestigious Order of Diego de Losada, First Class in 1992 for her work against apartheid and in defending trade union rights around the world.

“Shirley moved women’s rights to the top of the labour agenda and she was a determined opponent of apartheid,” CLC president Ken Georgetti said on the union’s website.

Carr received an honorary degree from Brock in 1981.

She died on June 24 in Niagara Falls at age 81.

Links:
• Shirley Carr, first woman CLC president, dies at 81
• Book of Memories for Shirley Carr at Morgan Funeral Homes
• CBC News — Labour pioneer Shirley Carr dies