Janet Baird, a forward-thinking former member of Victoria city council who devoted decades of service to the community, has died.
“She was very dedicated to Victoria,” said daughter Shauna Baird.
“We were raised with an awareness that we should always take a part in our community. We should very definitely take part in the democratic process.”
Baird, who served on Victoria council for nine years from 1981 until 1990, died on Monday at age 82. She had cancer 13 years earlier and it had reoccurred, her daughter said.
Shauna Baird described her mother as a positive person who lived a life of gratitude.
Former Victoria mayor Gretchen Brewin said Baird “certainly served her community. She was very devoted.”
Brewin recalled Baird’s joie de vivre and ebullient personality and said she was a good travelling companion. The women represented Victoria on visits to sister cities Morioka, Japan, and Suzhou, China.
Born in Regina in 1935, Baird completed an education degree at the University of Saskatchewan. She was married to the late Dr. Alastair Baird and they had five children. She leaves eight grandchildren.
Janet Baird talked about issues that are current today. She saw the potential for the high-tech industry and chaired the Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre board for more than a decade.
In 1982, she predicted that local companies would be able to develop overseas markets. Today, the local high-tech sector has estimated annual revenues of $4 billion.
And while she was promoting high-tech, Baird also talked about the importance preserving the city’s heritage, saying the old buildings enhanced the quality of life in Victoria and were a boon to tourism.
Close to 40 years ago, Baird was calling for more housing in the city core to make it more vibrant. Today, condominium units are rising non-stop in the downtown.
Baird was honoured by Royal Roads University with the Chancellor’s Community Recognition Award for her extensive involvement with local organizations. This included serving as a trustee on the Greater Victoria school board and chairing the Camosun College board. She sat on the Capital Regional District board, the Provincial Capital Commission and the Victoria Police Board.
Baird also served as returning officer for the federal riding in Victoria and was deputy district electoral officer for the provincial riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head.
Her wide circle of friends included former judge Ted Hughes, B.C.’s first conflict-of-interest commissioner, and Helen Hughes, community advocate and former Victoria council member. They first met Baird in Saskatchewan and renewed their friendship in Victoria.
“She was just a wonderful inspiring participant in public affairs. She served in the city in many capacities, always pleasant, cheerful and never afraid to express her opinion that was always well thought out,” Ted Hughes said.
Saanich Coun. Susan Brice and Baird were fast friends after being elected to the school board in 1975.
Baird never forgot her Prairie roots, Brice said. “She was just totally straightforward, a straight-shooter, kind but no pushover.”
Brice said Baird was principled and practical. “She was always looking for solutions that were doable.”
Times Colonist stories from the time often had Baird urging more research and better understanding of issues coming up in the community.
Victoria Coun. Geoff Young said Baird encouraged him to run for council in 1983 (he was elected) after they met on the Greater Victoria Public Library board. “She came in with a good, straight, common-sense approach but also with a big-picture view because she was obviously aware of a lot of other issues in the city.”
Former Saanich mayor Frank Leonard, who served on the Capital Regional District board with Baird, remembers her with respect. “She had strong views and expressed them extremely well.”
“I think women in politics today owe her some thanks. She was one of the ground-breakers in our region and did such a great job in elected office.”
A celebration of life will be held 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Victoria Golf Club, 1110 Beach Dr.
