Vera M. Lawson (nee Stewart) (Inducted 2003)
Vera Lawson, a native of Spring Valley, attended BCI during WWI, graduated in 1919 and attended Ottawa Normal School (Ottawa Teacher’s College) in 1920. She taught Elementary School in Brockville and area for 35 years, spending most of her teaching career in charge of an “auxiliary” class.
Vera was best known for her four decades of involvement with the Brockville Chinese Community and was highly regarded by its longtime members. She was involved with everything from teaching English as a second language to hanging curtains in their apartments; visits to the hospital and helping the new Canadians find jobs. Many prominent members of the Chinese Community including Agnes Lor and King Yee considered her a “guardian”. The Brockville and District Chinese Community officially recognized her efforts to make Brockville a better place for Chinese immigrants with an engraved plaque and a jade ring. She was also recognized by The City of Brockville and by Queen’s Park, when she received the prestigious Ontario Order of Merit and the Bicentennial Medal from the Premier of Ontario.
Mrs. Lawson was married to Leon Gates Lawson and had two daughters, and lived The majority of her life on Pearl Street, a few blocks from BCI.