Who is Brenda Patterson?
Brenda trained in fine arts and design at H. B. Beal Secondary School in London, ON. Later courses were in Archaeology at Waterioo, and in Architecture at Con College Thunder Bay. Brenda trained and worked as a Telegrapher at CP Rail, and then qualified as the first female train dispatcher with that company.
Subsequently, Brenda worked at Tyndale-St. Georges Community Centre Montreal (PCC- Anglican Mission) as program director.
While living in suburban Montreal, Brenda opened her home for newly arrived refugees, something that continued until 1999.
Brenda has been an active member of the Women’s Missionary Society since 1976, and has attained the status of life membership. She has been President of the Synodical of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, and President of the Presbyterial of Superior.
Brenda chaired the 1997-99 Journey to Wholeness Committee of the PCC General Assembly, which was a follow-up after the PCC’s apology for residential schools, and which was aimed at promoting reconciliation.
In 1999 Brenda accompanied her husband first to language school in Guatemala, and then to his mission appointment in El Salvador. Although at first she despaired of finding anything to do, she soon found herself organizing women’s workshops on topics such as nutrition, women’s health, civil rights, and spousal abuse. This developed into micro loan projects, women’s business training, and finally a bakery project (where to this day, the very best quesadillas are made).
In May of 2001, a few months after a devastaing earthquake, Brenda, accompanied by her sister Yvonne, daughter Brenda Jr., and the Rev. Evelyn McLachlan, broke the first ground to begin building the first of 64 houses for families whose homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the earthquake.
Brenda was also instrumental in organizing 2 “Gift of Sight” eyeglass campaigns that served over 35,000 persons, including prisoners in the Metapn Penitentiary. Brenda’s mother was living in Dutton, Ontario and had made contact with the local Lions Club who are paired with LensCrafters to do these campaigns on a global basis. Grandmother travelled to El Salvador for her 80th birthday to be part of the first campaign.
Brenda also organized feasts for the inmates and staff at the Metapan Prison. After returning to Canada in 2004, Brenda continued contact with El Salvador, and has led various groups there over the years. Together with her husband, they founded Otra Fe Canada which is about to give birth to Otra Fe El Salvador.
Brenda is an elder at St. James Presbyterian Church North Yarmouth, ON, and is active in the Christian education program there. She preaches as necessary when pulpit supply is scarce. Brenda and Jim have been married for 55.5 years, have 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson. There are also a large number of refugees who call Brenda “Mum”. Brenda’s current occupation is Upholsterer in her own shop in greater metropolitan West Lorne, ON.
