PBI-Canada mourns the passing of Phyllis Fischer

Peace Brigades International-Canada mourns the passing of Phyllis Fischer.

Phyllis passed away at 91 years of age on August 21 in Alliston, Ontario.

Her obituary notes: “Phyllis grew up in New Brunswick, Canada (St. John and Campobello Island). She graduated from McGill Medical School (Montreal, Canada) in 1955, interned in Vancouver [and] practiced pathology in Toronto for 18 years and then thoroughly enjoyed doing pathology locums across Canada for 10 years.”

It also highlights: “She was devoted to work on peace and social justice issues, supporting several organizations involved in these activities.”

Peace Brigades International-Canada Board member Marianna Tzabiras tells us: “Phyllis was a big supporter of PBI, always allowing us the space of her house for our meeting in the late 90s and sharing her wisdom with us.”

She also shared that: “Phyllis did a lot of solidarity work with Indigenous communities throughout her life, including being an associate member of the Quaker Aboriginal Affairs Committee of the Canadian Friends Service Committee and for a long period of time supporting Indigenous men in the prison system.”

Marianna adds that Phyllis was brought into PBI by Alaine Hawkins, one of the founders of PBI-Canada and a Toronto-based coordinator of PBI’s Central American Project.

And long-time PBI activist Joan Edenburg has posted on a tribute wall: “Her energy and love are now in the cosmos. I have loved her life and was allowed to enjoy it. I will continue this now while her energy free and independent is in cosmos. Phyllis showed me her compassion and concern for all living things. [She was] my mentor in Indigenous rights and stories. May Phyllis’ wisdom, energy, love, kindness, compassion and patience always remain in the hearts from all who have known her.”

PBI-Canada extends our condolences to her family and friends.