The time of her life

Of all the remarkable achievements in Karen Busby’s life, one of the most incredible is how she found the time.

Time, as a trailblazing legal scholar and educator at the University of Manitoba, to help lead transformative fights for human rights. Her work would help secure same-sex marriage equality in Manitoba, strengthen Canada’s laws against gender-based violence and earn landmark Supreme Court decisions to better protect sexual assault victims in court.

Karen Busby in 2010, when she was the subject of a profile in the Free Press. The lawyer, author and art lover was a renowned champion of human rights. (Mike Deal / Free Press files)

Around this core mission, she also found time to write books that made a lasting impact on equality in education, to become one of Canada’s strongest public voices for Indigenous, gender and LGBTTQ+ rights and to build Winnipeg’s art community, including as a co-founder of Ace Art and serving a decade on the board of the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq.

But above all, Busby always had time for her family, both born and chosen.

Read more about Karen Busby in our weekly A Life’s Story feature.

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The Free Press also offers other free newsletters you might enjoy. Dish sees arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney cover the latest in food and drink in the city, and Jill Wilson’s weekly Applause newsletter covers the local arts and entertainment scene.

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Dish. The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney.

'A legacy that will not be forgotten'

William (Bill) Wilson, one of the last surviving Second World War veterans, died July 27 at 101.

Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press:

Bill Wilson, one of Canada’s last Second World War veterans, dies at 101

Veterans Affairs Canada says one of the country's last surviving Second World War veterans has died. A social media post from the federal agency says William (Bill) Wilson died Monday at 101. It... Read More

'Steadfast champion of Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector'

“Senator Lewis understood that farming is more than a livelihood — it is a responsibility to the land, to one’s neighbours, and to the generations that follow. He carried that conviction from his family farm in Gray, Saskatchewan, into a distinguished career of advocacy that made him one of Canadian agriculture’s most trusted voices,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on the death of Sen. Todd Lewis.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press:

Saskatchewan senator, farmer Todd Lewis dies at age 65

OTTAWA - Todd Lewis, a Saskatchewan senator, farmer and agricultural sector advocate has died at the age of 65. Raymonde Gagné, the speaker of the Senate, announced Lewis's death Sat... Read More

'One of the vital driving influences of the Irish music world'

Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash July 29. He was 56.

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press:

Glen Hansard, Irish musician who won Oscar for ‘Once,’ dies in motorcycle crash

LONDON (AP) — Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, who won an Academy Award for the 2007 film “Once,” died in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin early Wednesday, his management sa... Read More

“He treated everyone with warmth and respect'

Sopranos actor Vincent Pastore has died at 80.

The Associated Press:

‘Sopranos’ actor Vincent Pastore, known for playing mobsters and tough guys, dead at 80

NEW YORK (AP) — Vincent Pastore, a veteran actor who played mobsters and tough guys, and was best known for portraying Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on “The Sopranos,” has died. He was 80... Read More

How They Lived

Read about the lives of great Winnipeggers and Manitobans on our Passages website.

Until next week, may you continue to write your own life’s story.

Sunday Passages