Janet Mary Whitmore Bingham
Wife, mother, heritage activist, writer, artist. Born in Vancouver on June 17, 1928; died in Vancouver on Sept. 26, 2013, of a stroke, aged 85.
Janet was part of a generation of women who made their mark through volunteer work. Even at an early age she was known for her determination – and her chatter. Growing up in Vancouver as an only child, she was surrounded by aunts, uncles and grandparents from the Bodie clan, who emigrated to Canada in 1908 from Aberdeen, Scotland.
She earned a BA in history and English from the University of British Columbia, and then did some travelling – sketch book in hand. When she returned home she met Alec Bingham, who had recently arrived in Canada after a number of years in the British Army followed by several years of colonial service in Ghana. They married soon after, and had three children (Michael, Mary and David).
As her children grew, Janet began working as a volunteer with the Community Arts Council of Vancouver, eventually becoming its chairwoman. She took part in campaigns to preserve Gastown, the city's oldest neighbourhood, and to prevent construction of a freeway through Chinatown. She returned to UBC to take graduate courses in fine arts and architectural history, and turned her focus to heritage preservation.
Janet was never afraid to speak her mind, which made her a great lobbyist, especially on the telephone. Her presentations to civic authorities were sharp and potent. She applied scholarship to her research of historic houses and the lectures she gave. A Canada Council grant let her research the life and work of B.C.-born architect, Samuel Maclure, resulting in her 1985 book, Samuel Maclure, Architect (for which Arthur Erickson provided the foreword).
Janet's most lasting contribution was her leadership of the arts council, which, along with Heritage Canada, pushed to create Barclay Heritage Square in the West End. Many were involved in this effort, but she was a key figure throughout the endeavour. The square is now a neighbourhood park of colourful gardens surrounded by restored heritage homes (owned and leased out by the city); Barclay Manor, which now houses the West End Seniors' Network; the Weeks House, now the Diamond Centre for Living; and the Roedde House Museum, whose rooms are furnished with artifacts and period items reflecting local history.
Janet was also a member of the Roedde House board and wrote More than a House: The Story of Roedde House and Barclay Heritage Square (foreword by Pierre Berton). A friend recently wrote, "I have never passed Roedde House without thinking of Janet. It is the perfect monument to her vision, tenacity and gentle informed persuasiveness."
She received many awards for her work, from the city and others. In 1997, she was honoured by the Heritage Canada Foundation with the Gabrielle Leger Award for Lifetime Achievement in Heritage Conservation.
Janet was also an artist. She invariably had a sketch book nearby, a watercolour under way on her easel, and her next artistic endeavour in sight. Her keen eye interpreted the world through colours, shapes and textures, as evidenced in her home and garden, which to her were paintings in progress. These same attributes were the foundation for her vision for restoring fine heritage buildings.
In addition to her civic legacy, Janet leaves her personal legacy: her loving husband, Alec, and her three children and their families, including four grandchildren.
Mary Reynolds is Janet's daughter.