Induction Category: Environment

When Lois James moved to Scarborough in the mid-1960s, few people had put much thought or energy into preserving the natural beauty of the Rouge. Now, largely because of her efforts, Scarborough citizens have more than 47 square kilometres of protected land, safely set aside as Rouge Park.

 

Born in Detroit, James was recruited as an aerologist for the United States’ military during the Second World War and developed a love for the environment through her work. She later moved to Scarborough where her late husband was working at the new University of Toronto’s Scarborough Campus. 

                                                            

In addition to her environmental activism and decades of work spent to protect the Rouge, James also had a strong interest in politics.  She ran for mayor of Scarborough in 1978 and for the Green Party in the 1988 federal election.  She is a long-standing member of the United Nations Association of Canada and was awarded the prestigious Order of Canada in 2003 for her tireless volunteer efforts. 

 

Now in her 80s, James remains active in the various community organizations she founded. Residing in the same Scarborough home she moved to years ago, Lois James is truly an environmental role model for a new generation of green thumbs.