Mother, wife, grandmother, sister, friend, colleague, actor, educator, lifelong learner. Born Nov. 11, 1946, in London, Ont. Died April 21 in Mississauga of unknown causes, aged 63.
Bridget Harrison accomplished remarkable things in her too-short life. Sadly, she did not live to play out the last act, but if she had, she would have kept looking for new challenges.
One of two children of Doug and Grace Blackwell, Bridget grew up in London, Ont. As a young person, her passion was the theatre. She starred with Victor Garber in London's Grand Theatre production of Tom Sawyer, in which she played Becky. She acted in at least one play a season at the London Little Theatre, and at 16 she became an apprentice at the Stratford Festival.
While working in Stratford, Bridget fell in love with Bill Harrison. They married in 1969.
Moving on from the stage, Bridget discovered that education was her calling. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1967 and earned her masters in education from the University of Toronto. Her performance skills were put to good use in her roles as teacher, principal, superintendent, pre-service instructor, student achievement officer and special assistant to a director of education.
Bridget was fearless, determined and passionate, a visionary who pushed the envelope and inspired loyalty and confidence. She could absorb, retain and summarize information succinctly, and her engaging delivery compelled attention.
At the provincial level, she was the go-to person for politicians who respected the depth and breadth of her knowledge. More than one politician was known to ask for "that woman who knows everything about education." As revered as she was, Bridget had a sense of fun. One Halloween, she rode the GO train to her Ministry of Education job fully turned out in a 1950s outfit, complete with a blond wig, and spent the day incognito.
At Bridget's funeral, people had many stories to tell of her love, generosity, wisdom and sense of adventure. When asked how many people's careers were influenced or inspired by Bridget, a sea of hands went up in the room.
Underneath her accomplishments, grace, intellect and style was a huge heart that took everyone in and gave them unconditional support. The Harrison home was the gathering place on celebratory occasions for extended family and friends.
In the last few years, their son Caleb's children, Mason and Mecaela, became the centre of her universe and her role as Nana, which she played brilliantly, was the one she held most dear. Her e-mail address - nanaharrison - says it all.
How very sad that her life was cut short. What would she have accomplished? Whatever she decided to do, it would have been spectacular.
By close friends of Bridget Harrison.