Through her deeds and words, she lifted herself up from a victim of senseless crime who was left a quadriplegic into a conqueror of all obstacles and an inspirational humbler of the rest of us who think we have problems. She may have been weighed down by a 300-pound mechanical chair, but she soared like an angel and enriched so many lives.
I was lucky enough to know her from my days working at the Toronto Star where she was a reporter. I can’t claim to be a close friend, but I did like her a lot and respect her immensely. The last time I saw her was just before this past Christmas.
I was delivering her two copies of the book called Hurricane Hazel which I co-wrote with former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion.
It was in Mississauga on Sept. 23, 1983 when four cowardly brutes came into the milk store where then 18-year-old Barb was closing up and shot her — all for $40 cash. One of the assailants was actually in high school classes with Barb.
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