Women of Quality in Quality

The Untied States celebrates Women's History Month in March while Canada celebrates Women's History Month in October.

Women's History Month is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with?International Women's Day?on March 8, and during October in Canada, corresponding with the celebration of?Persons Day?on October 18.

ASQ Manitoba quietly celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020. Over the years their members in their professional roles have had consider impact and influence in the Philosophies, the Arts and Sciences and, the applied Quality Sciences.?

In 1984, President Ronald Regan proclaimed October as National Quality Month in the Ubtied States.

The month of October was recognized as Canada's Quality Month with a 1986 proclamation from Canada's Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney. Manitoba's Premier, Gary Filmon, and Winnipeg's Mayor, William Norrie, proclaimed October as Manitoba's and Winnipeg's Quality Month at an event held at the University of Manitoba.

The month of November 2010 became World Quality Month. ASQ Canada proclaimed November's WQM in 2011 after my contacting the Prime Minister's Office and receiving written confirnmation that we could proclaim WQM as an international quality month in Canada.

What is significant? People matter.

Winnipeg as a city, Manitoba as a Province and, Canada as a country, were the first in the Commonwealth to initiate the months of October and November as World Quality Month with an international outreach. Simply, quality has no borders.

Ms. ISOBEL ST. CLAIR LOUTIT

ASQ Manitoba and ASQ Canada celebrated Ms. Isobel St. Clair Loutit career and legacy as a professional woman of quality in the quality field. She has considerable history with first and oldest ASQ section in Canada, Montreal.

Ms. ISOBEL ST. CLAIR LOUTIT

On October 2, 2003, American Society for Quality (ASQ) presented a Testimonial Award to Ms. Isobel St. Clair Loutit.?

The ASQ Society congratulated and thanked Isobel for being "a pioneer in the deployment of modern methods in quality control and in the management of quality during the period from 1940's through the 1970's, and for leadership in the ASQ in Canada".

Pictured From left to right, Dr. Smiley Cheng was the Manitoba Section Chair for the 2003/04 term and the Head of the Department of Statistics at the University of Manitoba, Dr. Brian Macpherson, Dr. John Brewster and Ms. Benda Fisk. The Statistics Department has a long standing history with ASQ Manitoba with its members in chair and Deputy Regional Director roles like Dr. Lai Chan. They have written many articles that can be found in many of ASQ professional journals.?

The Department of Statistics is celebrating its 52th year as Faculty of Science celebrates its 50th. (2020)?

Ms. Benda Fisk, ASQ Canada Regional Director and a member of ASQ’s Board of Directors, represented ASQ’s President, Ken Case.?

Together, they presented Ms. Loutit the American Society for Quality’s, Testimonial Award.?

Sadly, Ms. Loutit passed away on April 19th, 2009.

ISOBEL ST. CLAIR LOUTIT July 18, 1909 - April 19, 2009 Isobel was born to Peter Robert Loutit and Margaretta Grant Reekie in Selkirk, MB. She was the second eldest of seven, Anne, Isobel, John, Ruth, Roberta, Patricia and Marvel.

Isobel graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1928, a B.A. with a Math Major.

She taught school from 1929 to 1942 in Mountainside and Rondeau. In Winnipegosis she was Assistant Principal for five years after which she taught in East Kildonan. In the list of war casualties Isobel was devastated to see the names of four of her students from one small town. She sought to use her knowledge and skills to improve the survival chances of other young soldiers. She responded to a Government ad for women with Math and Science degrees.

She became involved in the production of the AA Predictor. This device predated radar and predicted the path of oncoming planes which allowed the plotting of the trajectory of anti-aircraft guns. When the war ended, her skills were put to good use in Northern Electric Company, now Nortel.

She became an active participant in Association for Quality Control, both in Canada and the United States.

Upon retirement in Montreal, she compiled the History of First Baptist Church in Montreal. She also spearheaded the committee compiling and producing the Celts of Compton County, a History of the Scots in the Eastern Townships.

In 1989, Isobel returned to Winnipeg to be with her two sisters, Anne and Ruth. Together they enjoyed many days exploring the Manitoba they loved. As a resident of Fred Douglas Place she had an impact on many. This lady of many firsts' maintained her gracious manner toward others all of her days.

She will be greatly missed by her sister Marvel and many nieces and nephews across North America. Interment will be a private service at Little Britain Cemetery with a Celebration of her Life at a later date. THOMSON IN THE PARK 925-1120 Send expressions of sympathy to www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 25, 2009

Note: Canada celebrates Women's History Month in October.