Ruth Black
Ruth Black (1914 – 22 April 1995) was a Canadian athlete and hospital administrator from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, who made her career in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Early life and athletic career
Black was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan in 1914. During the 1920s and 1930s she competed at championship level in basketball, volleyball, hockey, and softball. Her teams included the Golden Sprays and Port Arthur South Ends. In 1937 she was recruited by Schreiber for the Women's Ontario Softball playoffs, with her team reaching the Toronto finals.
She was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 in the Athlete category.
Administrative career
Black began as secretary at the Ontario Hospital farm in 1936, advancing to assistant administrator of Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital. She retired in 1973 as the sole female assistant administrator among the Ontario Ministry of Health's 26 facilities. She helped coordinate building plans for the hospital's Algoma Street location and organised its Volunteer Services Group.
She received the National Dow Award for Bravery in 1947 for stopping runaway horses at the Lakehead Exhibition Grounds. She volunteered with the YMCA, the Visitors and Convention Bureau, and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Together with Rose Frim, she co-proposed the Soroptimist International Friendship Gardens as a 1967 Centennial project. She established the Ruth Black Fund through the Thunder Bay Community Foundation, providing annual support to organisations and bursaries at Confederation College and Lakehead University.
Death
Black died on 22 April 1995 in Thunder Bay.
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Prominent local athlete during 1920s-30s, competing at championship level in basketball, volleyball, hockey, and softball. Teams included Golden Sprays and Port Arthur South Ends. Recruited by Schreiber for Women's Ontario Softball playoffs (1937); team lost only in Toronto finals. Inducted into Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame (1985) in Athlete category. Secretary at Ontario Hospital farm (1936), advanced to assistant administrator of Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital, retiring in 1973 as sole female assistant administrator among Ministry of Health's 26 facilities. Helped coordinate LPH building plans for Algoma Street location and organized hospital's Volunteer Services Group. Received National Dow Award for Bravery (1947) for stopping runaway horses at Lakehead Exhibition Grounds. Volunteered with YMCA, Visitors and Convention Bureau, and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Co-proposed Soroptimist International Friendship Gardens with Rose Frim (1967 Centennial Project). Established Ruth Black Fund through Thunder Bay Community Foundation, providing annual support to organizations and bursaries at Confederation College and Lakehead University.