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Mrs. Gwen Nowak McGrenere (BA 1965)

"The importance of a humanities degree needs to be emphasized at this time when there seems to be excessive emphasis on science and business. The liberal arts provide an understanding of our human story that isn't included in other academic disciplines. There is wisdom there."

From the time that she submitted her first piece of poetry to The Jabberwocky, a literary magazine published at St. Jerome’s University, Mrs. Gwen Nowak McGrenere (BA 1965) has known that she wanted to be a writer.

Gwen was born and grew up in Kitchener ON where she attended St. Anne’s primary school and St. Mary's High School. After graduating from Grade 12 at age 16 she was uncertain about attempting the rigors of the Grade 13 [OAC] curriculum. On the advice of her older sister Pat who thought Gwen should ultimately go to university Gwen decided to enroll in the Preliminary year at St. Jerome’s College. This gave her the option to focus almost exclusively on languages. During that year, Professor Lawrence Cummings, was her very "demanding and gifted" professor of English. Dr. Cummings "gave me a wakeup call to what is expected of a university student and what can be achieved." Gwen ultimately continued to pursue an undergraduate degree as a day student (a student who lived off campus) at St. Jerome's University, majoring in English.

One of Gwen's fond memories of UW is learning to play bridge during first year. One afternoon, Professor Cummings came into the St. Jerome's common room and interrupted the card game virtually begging the card players to take advantage of their very precious time at university for serious reading and study, time that would not be available to them after they graduated. Gwen eventually realized the value of this advice.

In second year, Gwen met her future husband Tom McGrenere, a law student from London, Ontario. Gwen and Tom were married in July of 1965, a few months after her graduation and Tom’s call to the bar. Gwen admits to taking a mischievous delight in telling people that both she and Tom spent a year in the seminary, hers in her ‘Prelim’ year at St. Jerome’s/Resurrection Seminary and he as a 'bona fide' - i.e. male -seminarian during his first year of university at St. Peter’s Seminary, London ON.

Following their marriage and move to Toronto, Gwen worked for several months as a librarian's assistant and subsequently as a supply teacher for the Toronto School Board. After the births of their three children, Gwen focused on raising a family. In 1978 she began doing freelance writing for the Catholic New Times newspaper including a seven part series on Physics and Theology. In 1983 she was the recipient of a Canadian Church Press award for her poem "Kingdom: An Interim Report." She also did further part time studies at U of T in biblical literature and other subjects, as well as contributing through writing and editing to various groups: Science for Peace at U of T, Women's Interfaith Dialogue B’nai Brith Canada, and Blessed Sacrament School’s quarterly children’s art, prose and poetry publication. "Throughout those years I researched, wrote and ultimately published a book titled Miriam of Nazareth: Who can find her? [Cortleigh House, 2000]. Following that I reviewed books for Books in Canada. As well, Tom and I collaborated in researching and writing a history of The Mary Centre Toronto." (Gwen’s website: www.miriamofnazareth.com)

Gwen now enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren. She also continues her personal research and writing, her primary focus being global gender issues and disarmament. At the invitation of Science for Peace she is currently preparing a brief paper for a July 2010 workshop on Global Governance and a World Without War.