Jean Scott was energetic, political, musical and a little flirty at her birthday party on Friday.
She just turned 101, and greeted guests with gusto at the party held at the Lynnwood Retirement home.
It was also a celebration of her endowment scholarship with the University of the Fraser Valley, and a fundraiser for it, honouring the theme of education through the generations.
There were speakers, a beautiful cake made of cup cakes, and a song or two from the birthday celebrant herself.
Scott, who holds an honorary doctorate from UFV, established an endowment scholarship to help improve women’s lives in Canadian society through support of education relating to social and political issues that impact women’s equality.
The 2012 scholarship recipient from the Jean Scott Endowment Scholarship, Amanda Preston, was singing her praises at the celebration.
"Her scholarship has made a huge difference in my life and made it possible to go to school even while raising a family," she said. "I couldn't be more thankful for the support she's given to people like me, who really need that financial assistance for school, and for just being a great role model, public figure and really working to help others in the world."
Scott earned the Governor General’s Person’s Medal in 1990, presented to Canadians who've made inroads to achieving equality for women in Canada. This award commemorates October 18, 1929, the date that Canadian women won the legal right to be recognizes as persons. After a lifetime of struggle and achievement, and tireless dedication to social justice and many causes, Scott self-published the memoir she wrote in 2005. Brown Sugar and A Bone in the Throat is a compelling narrative of her journey through childhood poverty, the Depression, World War II, multiple romances and marriages, and several political movements.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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