“The voice of reason, science, and authority.” That’s how Toronto mayor David Miller described Dr. Sheela Basrur, the woman who led Toronto through the SARS crisis. Dr. Basrur passed away of cancer in June. At a public memorial last Friday, Oct. 17—her birthday—speakers lined up to commemorate her life and achievements. Fittingly, the tribute was held at U of T’s Convocation Hall, where Dr. Basrur graduated from medical school in 1982.
When SARS hit Toronto in 2003, Dr. Basrur was the city’s commissioner of public health. SARS claimed 44 lives that year. With the possibility of a widespread epidemic on its hands, Toronto faced an overwhelming public health challenge.
Dr. Basrur, then 47, was well-regarded for her knowledge and bearing, helped to curb fear and anxiety.
Federal minister of health, Tony Clement, Premiere Dalton McGuinty, Mayor David Miller, CBC’s Andy Barrie, and Ontario public health officials spoke glowingly of Dr. Basrur.
Clement used two words to describe her character: “empathy and poise.” Despite her small size, joked McGuinty, Dr. Basrur was a towering figure in Ontario. “[She could] see past the rest of us, showing the way in a time of trouble,” he said.
Managing SARS wasn’t the only notable achievement of her career. Promoted to Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, she developed the colour-coded food safety alerts now mandatory for bars and restaurants, not to mention her work on the city-wide smoking ban.
“Tellers of the truth should tell the truth and run,” Premier McGuinty said. “She would never run.” An influential figure in the Toronto community, Dr. Sheela Basrur was a champion for public health. She will be missed.
