Congratulations to Barbara Barrett, 2026 Burleigh Wile Award Recipient!

By Ed Tummers

Below is the speech written and presented by Ed Tummers at the 2026 Ostomy Halifax Members’ Appreciation Luncheon.

“As time passes, fewer of you will remember Burleigh Wile. Whenever there was an ostomy event, you could be guaranteed that working behind the scenes somewhere was Burleigh. Whether it was setting chairs, arranging transportation, comforting a fellow ostomate, attending a funeral of a deceased member, or picking up trash afterwards, Burleigh always seemed to be involved. So when he passed away almost 25 years ago, he was really missed.

To keep his memory alive, the chapter created the Burleigh Wile Award. It was first awarded to Bernice Richards in 2003. It helps us remember Burleigh, but more importantly, it reminds us of the importance of his volunteer spirit. We didn’t write down any criteria for the award. The only restriction that I can recall is that it could not be presented more than once a year. The award honours the extraordinary volunteer spirit that lives on among the members of our chapter.

For those of you who were here last year when Bill presented the award to Pat Othen, you will recall his emotional tribute to Burleigh Wile and his legacy.

Spousal and Significant Others Support Group

We can all look around this room and see any number of worthy candidates. The 2026 recipient is one of the original members of the Spousal and Significant Others Support Group, known as SASO.

It may surprise you to learn that for the first half of the history of ostomy support groups, membership was restricted exclusively to people living with an ostomy. This restriction was challenged by a group of spouses who fought hard for several years to open the membership criteria.

In 2002, our Ostomy Halifax President, Mike Woolridge, hosted the national conference here in Halifax. After four years of lobbying at the national level, led by our own Betty Woolridge, Ostomy Canada approved the SASO program. This was the first time in our history that spouses and significant others were welcomed as equal partners in the ostomy journey. This is where the story begins for this year’s recipient of the Burleigh Wile Award.

2026 Burleigh Wile Award Recipient

Although it has been common practice to list the achievements of the recipient without actually naming them until the end, I intend to break that tradition today.

Join me in a big round of applause for the 2026 Burleigh Wile Award recipient, Barbara Barrett. Barbara, come up here and join me as we share your story.

Barbara Barrett's Achievements

I first met Barbara in 2002 when she brought her mother to the National United Ostomy Association of Canada (UOAC) Conference hosted here in Halifax shortly after her mother had ostomy surgery. Barbara was a wonderfully supportive daughter. They attended meetings regularly and always sat in the front row.

At the time, our Sunday meeting was also the monthly business meeting. Our Secretary was Joel Jacobson, who incidentally was the only person who could make you look forward to hearing the minutes of the previous meeting being read. When Joel was elected to the Ostomy Canada Board of Directors, the position of Secretary became vacant, but there were no volunteers to replace him. The duties of Secretary were divided, and the new position of Correspondence Secretary was created.

Because the SASO program had just been approved at that 2002 conference, Barbara was able to volunteer. To the best of my knowledge, Barbara was the first person without an ostomy in the history of ostomy support groups to hold an elected office.

In the days before email, all correspondence was handwritten. This included inviting and thanking speakers, contacting municipalities for World Ostomy Day proclamations, celebrating milestones with congratulatory cards, and sending condolences to the families of deceased members.

Barbara has reached out to hundreds of our members over the years on behalf of Ostomy Halifax, marking both the highs and the lows of their lives. At the beginning of every meeting, Barbara would also announce all the cards she had sent that month so members could keep in touch and reach out themselves.

Barbara also had experience as a hospital chaplain. She regularly attended funerals and memorial services on behalf of Ostomy Halifax.

At the AGM last month, it was announced that Barbara, at the age of 83, would be retiring as Correspondence Secretary. Barbara was elected 11 times and served an incredible 22 years of our Society’s 53-year history. She holds the record as the longest-serving elected officer in Ostomy Halifax's history.

Many of you who attended Sunday meetings before COVID will remember that Barbara always led the group in the opening Ostomy Prayer. I invite Barbara to lead us one final time.”

The Ostomy Prayer

O Lord, as we have been reborn, let us share Your blessings with those ostomates who do not know how good the life is You have given us. Let us vow in the years ahead to renew the work of our group. As You have renewed our lives, we thank You for those lives, for the mutual support we give each other, and for the charge You have given us to support one another. Amen.

Barbara, thank you for all your contributions to Ostomy Halifax and for being part of our lives during times of both sadness and celebration.

Congratulations on receiving the Burleigh Wile Award. May you enjoy your retirement, and remember that you will always be part of our ostomy family.

Presented by Ed Tummers