Established in memory of Effie Barbara Paul (Paithouski), B.A. '74 (Carleton) by her son, N. Joseph Paithouski, B.A. '79, B.Sc. (Eng.) '80.
Donor Story:
The story of Barbara Paul begins in London, England. The mother of Barbara Paul, Frances Williams, had been born near Newcastle, but as she lost both parents, she was raised by an aunt in London. When a young woman, during World War I, Frances met and married Charles Paul, Lieutenant in the 90th Winnipeg rifles. The child, Barbara Paul, was born in London, and it was decided that the mother and the child should travel to Sarnia, Ontario and await the father's discharge from the army.
Barbara Paul completed high school in 1936, hoping to go on to university, strongly encouraged to do so by her Aunt Effie Paul, Charles only sister. Unfortunately, Charles Paul died in an automobile accident, leaving the mother alone to raise eight children during the later years of the Great Depression. Barbara went to work as a secretary for the Dominion Bridge company and later the Imperial Oil Company Ltd. in Sarnia.
In 1946, Barbara Paul married Nicholas J. Paithouski (Queen's Sc'40) in Hamilton, Ontario. They later moved to Sarnia and raised two children, Janet Elizabeth Baker and N. Joseph Paithouski.
While continuing with family responsibilities, Barbara renewed her interest in education and qualified as a teacher in the Ottawa area (1963-65), later becoming a Home Economics teacher with the Carleton Board of Education.
Barbara's university education began part-time at St. Patrick's College when she was 45 years of age. She transferred to Carleton University and eventually completed her B.A. degree in 1974, the only member of her family of eight to receive a university education. Her academic endeavours encouraged her son and daughter. Janet studied Home Economics at the University of Guelph and became a practicing dietician. Joseph completed a B.A. in 1979 (Economics and Film) while also completing and Engineering degree (Sc '80 in Mining) at Queen's University.
Barbara Paul passed away in July of 1976. The Barbara Paul Prize is meant to honour her memory and to give recognition to other women with similar goals and perseverance. The Barbara Paul Memorial Award has been set up to provide financial help to mature students, preferably women, who are nearing completion of their studies.
The Barbara Paul Prize and the Barbara Paul Memorial Award were established by her son, N. Joseph Paithouski, to recognize his mother's greatest personal achievement -- graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English at the age of 57. She graduated from Carleton University in November 1974, through Part-time Studies.
Queen's University was chosen to bestow this award and this prize for three reasons. The Paul family were originally French Huguenots who fled to Scotland as a Sept of the MacPherson Clan, so some of the family roots were in Scotland as were the roots of Queen's University. Secondly, when the two Paul brothers came to Canada from Scotland in the 1800's, they settled not far from Smith's Falls in the Ottawa Valley, near Queen's University. Finally, Queen's is the home of the Ban Righ Foundation, a resource centre unique to Queen's. The foundation offers moral and financial assistance to women like Barbara Paul, helping them to realize their academic aspirations and take their places in Canadian society.
