Mildred Jane (Millie) Foster
Mildred Jane (Millie) Foster
- Date of Birth: November 16, 1913
- Date of Death: January 8, 2009
- Accomplishments: Community service, development of 55 Plus Centre, Paul Harris Fellow Award, Province of Ontario International Year of Older Persons Award
Mildred Jane Foster (nee Hutchins), or Millie as she was better known, was born in Fort William, attending Drew Street School and Fort William Collegiate in what is now the Thunder Bay South Side. She met her future husband Bertrand Arthur Foster in 1932, marrying in January 1938 just before the outbreak of World War II. While he went overseas, Millie worked as many women did during the war, first at Chapples Department Store and later Canadian Car and Foundry (Can Car), in their offices.
In the 1960s, she began attending the senior centre situated in what was once the Benger Block on Red River Road, now the location of the provincial government building. However, in 1962 Ontario passed legislation which altered funding to old-age community facilities: 50% of their costs were to be paid by seniors or raised from other sources, with only partial funding from the government. Over time this led to increasing instability and forced the centre to move repeatedly.
Millie and others responded with a donation drive and outreach campaign, connecting with major corporations and offices, many of which Millie had either worked in or knew personally. With charm and perseverance, she helped generate interest and funds to eventually establish what is now the 55 Plus Centre on River Street, which opened in September 1991.
Millie has been recognized for this achievement and others, but her two most significant awards are the Paul Harris Fellow Award in 1992 (Rotary Foundation), and the Province of Ontario’s International Year of Older Persons award in 1999. She was active in her community in many other ways, including being a member of the Greenstone Rebekah women’s lodge since 1932 and later in life serving on the CKPR-TV Advisory Council from 1985 to 1998. Millie and Bertrand had four children and celebrated their 60th anniversary in 1998.
Though Millie passed away in January of 2009 at the age of 95, her legacy of principled charity and goodwill will be remembered for much longer.
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