DR. SYBIL FRANCIS SHACK

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DR. SYBIL FRANCIS SHACK Sybil Shack, age 92, passed away at her home in Winnipeg on Thursday January 22. Born April 1, 1911, Dr. Shack graduated from St. Johns High school at the age of 14, received her BA from the University of Manitoba at age 18 and her teachers certificate at age 20. Because of the 1930s Depression it took her two years to get a full-time teaching job so she wrote articles and editorials for a Labour Council newspaper and for the Western Jewish News while doing tutorials and substitute teaching. Eventually began teaching in rural Manitoba, at Foxwarren and Shoal Lake. After three years she was accepted into the Winnipeg school system and served as a teacher at all levels. She returned to University of Manitoba and earned her M. Ed in 1945. In 1948 she became a school principal and she retired in 1976 as principal of Kelvin High School. Dr. Shack earned a national reputation in the 1950s as a writer and broadcaster of education programs on CBC radio. She also authored several education texts and general interest books including: Armed With a Primer, The Two Thirds Minority on women in education, and Saturdays Stepchildren on women in Canadian business. Sybil served as president of the Manitoba Teachers Society, and as a director of the Canadian Teachers Federation and she led many professional education committees including the Language Arts Curriculum Council of the Manitoba Department of Education. She was also a founding member and fellow of the Canadian College of teachers. Beyond the teaching profession she served on a number of government boards and commissions, among them the Manitoba law Reform Commission and the MB Judicial Council. She also served for many years as chair of the Legislative Review Committee, MB Association for Rights and Liberties (MARL) in which capacity she wrote many briefs and made frequent presentations to the Law Amendments Committee of the MB Legislature. She was honorary president of MARL at the time of her death. Earlier she served as national president of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association with which MARL is affiliated. She was also a past board member of the Winnipeg United Way, the Social Planning Council and the Dafoe Foundation and she was a longtime member and supporter of the New Democratic Party. Among more recent activities she was actively involved in preparing for the 50th anniversary book of the Jewish Child and Family Services Agency. Sybil was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1984 and received numerous other awards and honours, among them an Honorary Doctorate (LL.D) from the University of Manitoba, the Persons Award given to outstanding Canadian Women, and the Manitoba Human Rights Achievement Award. She was a member and supporter of many organizations, from the Manitoba Action Committee on the Status of Women to Amnesty International and the Winnipeg Humane Society. She was a mentor and role model to many people through her teaching years and beyond. She left her papers to the University of Manitoba Archives. Sybil was predeceased by her parents, Alex and Pauline Shack; by her foster brother John Hirsch; and by her brother-in-law Elvin Katz. She is survived by her sister Freda Katz of Naples, Florida; by nieces and nephews; and by a large "mispoche" of cousins and friends in Winnipeg and elsewhere. Thanks to Marta for her special care to Sybil throughout the years. Contributions in memory of Sybil may be made to any of the organizations which she supported. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 26 at 11:00 a.m. at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue. Burial following at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on Northmain.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 25, 2004