Bernice Marjorie Brine

Other Events:

• Honoured: Bernice Adams Award, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Bernice Adams Award
• Interesting: politics
• Name: Bernice Marjorie Adams
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-166559

Notes:

Adams had major role in region

The death of Cambridge alderman Bernice Adams Wednesday leaves Waterloo region without one of its most liked and influential public figures. Adams, 45, who died in Cambridge Hospital of heart failure Wednesday afternoon, had filled a pivotal role in municipal government both in Cambridge, where she had been an alderman since 1971, and in the region, which she had served since 1977.

But she was best known for the fiery and sometimes controversial role she played as chairman of the Waterloo Regional Police Commission, the first woman to ever hold the post. A measure of her influence and political strength is the fact that the former radio personality had been acclaimed in Cambridge's Ward 2 seat since 1973. Since then, she has racked up an impressive list of political credits, including two consecutive regional appointments, membership in the region's finance committee, membership in Cambridge's general government committee and chairman of the police commission.

Although plans have yet to be drawn up, a byelection[sic] will likely be held in Cambridge early next year to fill her Ward 2 seat. Meanwhile, Cambridge council must choose a replacement for Adams at regional council. Adam's powerful position as chairman of the police commission will be filled on a temporary basis by vice-chairman Chris Jones, a Cambridge businessman. In an interview Wednesday, Jones said he will probably not seek the position full-time because of the time demands of the job.

Adams was chosen chairman in May, 1979, on the recommendation of outgoing chairman Steve Harper, who urged that a regional representative be chairman in future years. (The commission is comprised of two regional representatives and three provincial appointees.) Jones said that although it is desirable for the chairman to be locally-elected politician, it is unlikely the commission will look to one of the two regional appointees for its next chairman.

Jones said that since both regional appointees will be serving on the commission for the first time, the commission will probably choose from one of the three experienced provincial appointees. Former Wilmot township mayor Ernie Ritz and former commission chairman, Judge J.R.H. Kirkpatrick are leading candidates for the job.

In 1½ years as commission chairman, Adams took complete charge of the five-member board, leading it through its court battle with former police chief Syd Brown, attempting to have Parliament reintroduce capital punishment and quashing a recommendation that the force introduce 12-hour work shifts. On regional council, she was an unmatched debater, and one of council's most forceful and influential spokesmen. Adams was held in such esteem that she was almost assured of being a unanimous choice of regional council to receive one of two appointments to the police commission. The appointments will be made a council's Dec. 11 inaugural meeting.

Cambridge Reporter - Nov 27 1980

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Bernice Adams dead at 45

By Dianne Wood Staff Writer

Bernice Marjorie Adams, a prominent and outspoken Cambridge alderman died in hospital yesterday at the age of 45.

Mrs. Adams, also chairman of the Waterloo Region police commission, died of heart failure at 12:55 p.m. at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

The Alexander Avenue resident had been admitted to hospital a week ago suffering from a flareup of a diabetic condition and a severe cold.

Although not considered seriously ill at first, hospital officials said her condition deteriorated over the last few days.

A press release issued by the city at 3 p.m. yesterday at the request of her family, stated that there was a general collapse caused by the lung infection that hospitalized her. Her heart did not take the strain, the release said.

A private family funeral was to be held today in the chapel at Coutts and Son Funeral Home, with interment in Mount View Cemetery.

Mrs. Adams was a member of Westside Gospel Chapel, and was the former Bernice Brine.

She is survived by her husband, William, a daughter, Kellea, and a son, Stephen, both at home. She is also survived by her mother, Grace Thompson, of Cambridge.

As an expression of sympathy, the family would appreciate donations to Youth With a Mission (YWAM) or a charity of choice.

The death of Mrs. Adams, a colourful alderman for the past nine years and local radio personality for more than 10 years, drew reactions of shock form dozens of friends and local residents yesterday and today.

Born in Galt Dec. 2, 1934, she became well known because of her work at local radio station CFTJ, her involvement with local politics, and a weekly newspaper column.

While at CFTJ, she wrote commercial copy, did many of the on-location broadcasts from places like trailer salesrooms, and was responsible for many regular weekly programs, such as the Woman of the Week program which honored local women for their contributions.

She was also responsible for initiating new programs at the station, such as Cradle Call, which broadcast new births, and the engagement announcements.

For the last few years, she had also written a newspaper column, Adams About Anything, that appeared each Saturday in The Cambridge Reporter.

The column dealt with material humorously, and often dipped back nostalgically into Cambridge's history.

Mrs. Adams' involvement with local politics also placed her in the community spotlight. Acclaimed as alderman for the past five terms, her competence was never questioned by Ward 2 residents of fellow council members who regarded her highly.

Mayor Claudette Millar said yesterday the city had lost one of the best aldermen it had ever had.

She had served on the former Galt town council before being acclaimed to Cambridge council upon amalgamation.

As alderman, her style was always outspoken, or "straight from the shoulder", as she called it. The blunt approach was combined with a sharp sense of humor which often surfaced at unexpected moments during serious proceedings.

For example, when asked as police commission chairman last November about filling a position on the commission vacated by Steve Harper, she joked that getting the job was something like having the best deck chair on the Titanic. The commission was then dealing with the controversial Syd Brown affair.

She was elected commission chairman in May 1979, to succeed Mr. Harper, after having served as vice chairman. Mrs. Adams was first appointed to the police commission in December, 1978, as one of two regional council representatives.

The commission's first woman chairman, she was elected to the position unanimously after having served only five months on the commission.

It was as commission chairman that she first suffered health problems which sent her to hospital. Admitted in late December to undergo treatment for an infected leg which wouldn't heal properly, she was off for three months.

Even then, however, she kept up her commission duties from her hospital bed where she had a telephone installed. In her indomitable style, she even once made a surprise appearance in her wheelchair at a Waterloo Region council meeting in January to challenge remarks that she should be replaced.

At that time she said, "As you can clearly see, 97 percent of your police commission chairman is in good health. Only the leg requires attention"

Mrs. Adams was a diabetic and had a long fought a weight problem. While in hospital for the leg treatment, but is had slowly been returning.

Cambridge Daily Reporter 27 Nov 1980

Honoured:
Bernice Adams Award for her contribution to the cultural life in the City of Cambridge.

Bernice — Williams Adams. Williams was born 1927; died 30 Apr 2010, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Memory Gardens Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]