Fairbairn, Joyce (1939– )

Canadian politician and literacy campaigner. She was appointed to the senate for Lethbridge, Alberta, in 1984 and, in 1993, was appointed to the cabinet as the first female leader of the government in the senate. Fairbairn launched a campaign for literacy in Canada in 1987 and was appointed minister with special responsibility for literacy in 1993. In 1997, she became the special advisor for literacy to the minister of human-resources development.

Fairbairn moved to Ottawa from her native Alberta, completing a degree in journalism at Carleton University in 1961. She worked originally as a journalist for the United Press International as part of the Parliamentary Press Gallery Bureau before entering politics. In 1970, she became legislative assistant to prime minister Pierre Trudeau, later becoming his communications coordinator.