Dorothy Grant

Born in Halifax in 1935, Dorothy attended Queen Elizabeth High School and graduated from the Halifax Infirmary School of Nursing in 1956. She worked in the operating room of the Children’s Hospital and, for several years, in a private ENT practice in Halifax. After covering a nursing story for a radio news program, she discovered her passion for journalism and transitioned to a career as a broadcaster focusing on consumer issues on CBC radio and television. Halifax merchants of the 1970s lived in fear of a negative review. She and her colleagues received a Juno Award for The Other Child, her 1979 documentary about the IWK Burn Unit. Throughout her career, she wrote many articles on consumer issues, doctor-patient relations, and local history; Dorothy published in journals such as the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Family Practice Magazine, The Canadian Nurse, and The Senior’s Advocate, and wrote many columns for the Chronicle Herald newspaper. She wrote several books including Amazing Medical Stories (2011) co-authored with Dr. George Burden.

Throughout her life she remained concerned with patient care, and in later years worked as Director of Communications & Public Affairs and later as Patient-Physician Relations Coordinator for the Nova Scotia Medical Society (now DoctorsNS). She served on committees with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, Family Caregivers Association of NS, and the Canadian Consumer Council. Her work was recognized with an award from Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada and the Progress Women of Excellence Award.

She was the loving wife of William (Bill) Grant —also a member of the CBC Halifax family—who passed away only 6 weeks before Dorothy, just shy of their 70th anniversary. The genetic disorder adrenoleukodystrophy took her younger son David from her at age 11, and although slowed down herself by the neurological effects of the disease, she remained active in fundraising for the IWK Health Centre.

Dorothy was a true people person. Outgoing, gregarious, and interested in everyone she met, she could not go to the store without being stopped by strangers who recognized her from TV, and would often return home knowing (and fascinated by) their life stories.

She is predeceased by husband Bill, son David, sister Yvonne Nichols and brother Tony Metie. She is survived by son Ian (Karen Prokai), sister Bonnie Montgomery (Andrew), and beloved grandsons Will and Jamie.

Dorothy donated her remains to the Dalhousie Human Body Donation Program and Maritime Brain Tissue Bank. A celebration of life will be held at the Halifax Central Library (5440 Spring Garden Road, 3rd floor, Room 301) on Tuesday September 1 from 1-3 PM; all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the VON or the David Grant Fund at the IWK Foundation.