A trail-blazing reporter, a dedicated coroner, an avid ornithologist, a Girl Guide leader, and a lover of cats and horses, “McTick” died in Victoria Hospice on December 29 from complications due to thyroid cancer, with close friends by her side. She was 68.
Barbara Jean McLintock was born in Regina, grew up in the Winnipeg suburb of Fort Garry, earned a degree in psychology at the University of Winnipeg, and headed west the day after her graduation.
At age 22, she got a job covering the BC legislature for the Province newspaper, and two years later, was acclaimed as both the youngest-ever, and the first woman, to be President of the Press Gallery. She was promoted to Victoria Bureau Chief in 1974, and three years later, was lured away to become editor of the Victoria Times.
When the Times and the Daily Colonist merged, Barb moved east to work in the Southam News Bureau in Ottawa before being hired back by The Province as Victoria Bureau Chief in 1982 — a position which she held until her retirement due to corporate down-sizing in 2003.
While a reporter, Barb wrote two books: “Anorexia’s Fallen Angel: The Untold Story of Peggy Claude-Pierre and the Controversial Montreux Clinic”, and “Smoke-Free”, which detailed how Victoria became the first city in Canada to effectively ban smoking in indoor public places.
Within months of retiring, Barb was hired as the first Legislative reporter for TheTyee.ca, and also did some freelance work, including fill-in talk show hosting on C-FAX 1070 Radio.
Barb became a part-time Community Coroner in 2004, a full-time Coroner in 2006, and then in 2011, became spokesperson for the BC Coroners Service, a position which she held until her retirement from full-time in 2017.
You can read much more about her legendary and award-winning exploits in superb articles by Tom Hawthorn for TheTyee.ca, by Richard Watts at TimesColonist.com, and by Mike Smyth in TheProvince.com, among others.
In her spare time, Barb was an avid birder, a Girl Guide leader, a member of the Getting’ Higher Choir, a collector of juvenile horse fiction, a lover of cats and horses, and a dedicated dressage rider.
In 2002, Barb was named an Honourary Citizen by the City of Victoria, for her extensive volunteer work with groups including the Boys and Girls Club and the CRD Traffic Safety Commission. In 2004, the Victoria YM/YWCA named her a “Woman of Distinction”.
Special thanks to Victoria Hospice staff and volunteers for their care and compassion during Barb’s short time there.
A Public “Celebration of Life” for Barb McLintock will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC V8Y 1B4.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted by Broken Promises Animal Rescue (BrokenPromisesRescue.com, 2834 Sooke Road, Victoria, BC V9B 4J9) and/or by Victoria Hospice (VictoriaHospice.org).
Memories of Barb can be shared below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
15 Responses
The heavens have gained another angel. I have known Barb for 18 years–she was the most honest,
caring,compassionate & successful woman – accomplishing so much in her life professionally & personally. She always knew the right words to speak to comfort one & with a heart as big as gold was always ready,willing & able to help out. She will be deeply missed by all that knew her –but she will never be forgotten.
Barbara was one of the best … personally and professionally! She will be missed by so many. My condolences to all those close to her.
Barbara was in the Press Gallery during my time as an MLA. She had a strong believe that politics was more than the show on the floor of the Legislature, and instead was an important factor in people’s lives. Facts mattered to Barbara, and she was untiring in digging them out. She will be greatly missed by her many friends.
David Anderson
Barbara was a regular and much welcomed guest on the old CHEK TV weekly show ‘Capital Comment’. I recall she was always on top of the latest political events and was much admired for her razor sharp sense of humour. RIP Barbara …
What a terrible loss to so many communities in Victoria. Barb was a hero to us all.
I worked with Barb at the Coroners service. She was always very gracious and generous with her time. Her enthusiasm and passion for the service continued even as she was winding down her career and handing over the communication duties she continued to be involved. She was a great friend to many and will be remembered and missed.
Over the past few years my wife Sharon and I lost touch with Barb. Most folks will not know Barb played a vital role in creation of the BC Ambulance Service. It was Barb who did all the editing work and helped deliver a document commissioned by Dr. Richard Foulks on the creation of a provincial ambulance service. The report was titled “Twice an Orphan.” It was Barb who was also a strong influence and encouragement for me to write the history of the BC Ambulance Service. We had more than our share of laughs over the years. Barb will be missed by so many folks. Sharon and I were very fortunate to call Barb a friend.
Barbara (still Barbie to me) was the smartest person I have ever met. We went through grades 5 and 8-12 together at Vincent Massey Collegiate and often walked home from school together. Were also in Girl Guides together. Our uncles were life long best friends. I always admired and respected Barbara. She was always going to excel at whatever she chose to do and her successes came as no surprise. Very sadly taken much too soon.
Barbara was a woman of many accomplishments and always a kind and caring person.I knew her first when her career in journalism began at The Daily Colonist and I was a reporter at the Victoria Daily Times. In 1971 she first covered a session of the BC legislature for the Colonist. She is gone far too soon – but so well remembered.
Dearest Barb,
Such adventures we shared with our mutual friend, Shirley. I will treasure these memories always. Gone but never forgotten; Godspeed my friend. We three sleuths of Victoria were …
Bean