About Us : Faculty and Staff : Barbara MacQuarrie
Community Director
Barbara MacQuarrie | bmacquar@uwo.ca
Barb MacQuarrie is the Community Director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children at the University of Western Ontario . Formerly she was the Communications Coordinator for the Sexual Assault Centre London.
She received an Honours B.A. from McMaster University in 1982. She went on to work in several community organizations including the Ontario Public Interest Research Group in Hamilton, SHAIR International Development Resource Centre also in Hamilton, the Union des Pacifists du Quebec in Montreal and Oxfam, the Cross Cultural Learners Centre and the Sexual Assault Centre in London.
In 1984 Ms. MacQuarrie went to Guatemala with Peace Brigades International as a Human Rights observer. There she accompanied to civilians working non-violently for peace and justice whose lives were threatened by military and para-military groups. In 1986 she was a member of a three person team who expanded the work of PBI into El Salvador . She continued working to provide personal accompaniment to civilians whose lives were threatened and to act as a non-violent witness in this war torn region until 1989. She was a member of the International Council of PBI from 1990 – 1992 and served as Chair from 1992 – 1994.
Ms. MacQuarrie's work in the women's anti-violence movement has been broad ranging. She has developed specific interests in gendered workplace harassment and violence in the lives of girls. She has co-authored several articles on workplace harassment and violence in the lives of girls. She is the Executive Producer of the video, “The Way Forward: Rethinking the Problem of Workplace Sexual Harassment.” She has been a guest speaker and workshop presenter on a wide range of women's issues for a variety of audiences.
Ms. MacQuarrie is a past president of the London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse and the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres. She has served as a board member for Across Languages and Margaret's Haven.
Ms. MacQuarrie was honoured to receive a Pride Award in 2005 from the National Council of Women of Canada for her community work and her status as a single parent.
Barbara MacQuarrie's Publications