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BY ROBIN HILBORN, Family Helper editor
(Nov. 24, 2006) Adoption crusader Helen Allen died in Toronto on Nov. 9, 2006 at the age of 99.
Her work on behalf of domestic adoption in Canada garnered her many awards. The most recent was a Special Achievement Award from the North American Council on Adoptable Children in 2005.
Helen Allen was honoured for her pioneering work with the "Today's Child" newspaper column. Today, it's a fixture at the Toronto Star, which since 1971 has featured the pictures and profiles of children awaiting adoption.
But when Ms. Allen, then a reporter for the Toronto Telegram, launched "Today's Child" in June 1964 it met with skepticism from the Children's Aid Societies of the day, who balked at the idea of parading their children before the public. (Photolistings are now far more common.) Three of the 51 CASs did take part -- Hamilton, Kenora and Toronto -- and the daily column became a success. Other daily and weekly papers in Ontario picked up the column and in 1968 Ms. Allen launched a television version on CFTO-TV, "Family Finder".
Helen Allen received many honours. She was named to the Order of Canada and received an honorary doctorate from York University and the Award of Merit from the City of Toronto.
Helen Kathleen Allen was born in Dundurn, Sask., on Aug. 16, 1907. She married Charles Stacey in Toronto on Oct. 3, 1980, when she was 73, and he 74. In 1981 she stepped down from the "Today's Child" column (Judith Adams did it for seven years more) and "Family Finder", but still spent two days a week writing letters and Adoption Bulletins.
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