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The Honourable M.M. Van Camp Blackstock woman was a ‘judicial pioneer’ and a role model for women Professionally she was referred to as Madame Jus- tice, Your Honour, My Lady or M.M. Van Camp. But when she was at home, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario simply went by Mabel. “She wouldn't let just anyone call her Mabel,” re- called the late Honourable Mabel Margaret Van Camp’s sister Jessie Gunter of Blackstock. “She was Mabel when she was at home.” Over tea, using the same English bone china teacups ed when Mabel visited, Tessie and Mabel’s cousin Aileen Van Camp tells her incredible life story. It all started at the red brick century home at the four corners of Blackstock, owned by Mabel’s father, William John Weir, who owned the local garage, and her mother Mary Jane (Smith), a homemaker. Born on May 11, 1920, Mabel was the eldest of four daughters, including the late Wilma Drinkwater, the late Helen Van Camp and Jessie Gunter. While the girls enjoyed skiing and tobogganing, playing baseball and going for long walks, Mabel’s true passion was reading. “At Christmas, grandpa would have to sit on the pile of books that Mabel got for Christmas so she would social- ize instead of having her nose in a book, “ Aileen recalled with a smile. Mabel's quest for knowl- edge led her to excel in school. Under the guidance of teacher Miss Phoenix, Mabel complet- ed elementary school at the one Mabel, as she was known to her close friends, was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario room school house in Black- stock in only four years, doing 08.FOCUS, AUGUST.32 pgsindd 13 Me 'Ss y M.M.VAN cam f Picture from her graduation. The Honourable Mabel Van Camp 1920 - 2012 two grades per year. At age 11, Mabel was off to Cartwright High School. In the 1930s, Mabel’s grandfather was respon- sible for establishing a high school in the village. At the age of 16, Mabel Margaret Van Camp was the first student from Blackstock, male or female, to attend University. This was the first in a suc- cession of “firsts” for the blue-eyed, dark blonde haired girl who loved to learn. “Back in those days, women went into teach- ing or nursing or they were secretaries,” said Jessie, who is a retired teacher. It was unusual for a young woman to seek post secondary education in other fields, or to go far away from home to study, and Jessie recalls their mother being upset at first. But Dr. RP. Bowles, a Chancellor at Victoria College, encouraged Mabel to attend university, and she pursued her dream, graduating in 1941. Two years of teaching Latin and Home Eco- nomics at high school taught Mabel that a career as a teacher wasn’t her cup of tea. Law school intrigued her. Mabel graduated from Osgoode Hall and was called to the Bar of Please turn to page 14 FOCUS - AUGUST 2012 13 12-07-23 9:04AM