Dr. Violet Eagles - From Vancouver Province August 30 1929
By Jim Wolf, Heritage Planner, City of Burnaby
Dr. Violet Evelyn Eagles
1899-1994
Violet Evelyn Dunbar was born September 29, 1899 in Stratford, Ontario, Downing County, the eldest child of John and Mary (Tompson) Dunbar. John Dunbar was a teacher and provided Violet with her initial academic education while she attended elementary school in Mitchell, Ontario. The Dunbar family moved to Vancouver in the fall of 1912 residing in Kitsilano. John Dunbar became the principal of Charles Dickens School. Violet excelled at her early education and graduated from King Edward High School in 1916.
Violet entered McGill University College in 1917 before enrolling in the fledgling University of British Columbia. Violet was very interested science and took courses in Chemistry, Biology and Physiology. She attained her BA in 1921, a MA in 1922 and was appointed as a laboratory instructor in the Chemistry Department. In 1922 she attended the Provincial Normal School and within six months had a teaching certificate which she put to immediate use teaching at Lord Hudson School in 1923.
Violet had set her sights higher than an Elementary School teacher and in September 1923 was awarded a two-year scholarship to the University of Toronto, where she joined Blythe in the Bio-Chemistry Department. Here she met Dr. Banting and worked on obtaining a second MA and a PhD which she completed in 1929. In 1926 she enjoyed the luxury of a prestigious University Tour of Europe sponsored by the University of Toronto. Her graduate studies entailed research in pure proteins and enzymes related to the commercial production of cheese. Through this work she was recognized as one of the leading enzyme chemists in the country, being a senior lab instructor of biochemistry. Her Doctorate was big news when she returned to Vancouver in 1929, and a large photo of Dr. Violet Dunbar in her cap and gown was printed in the Vancouver Province.
After marriage, Violet did not pursue her academic or scientific career. Instead she devoted her time to other pursuits related to Blythe’s career and important “club” work concerning women’s and community health. She served as the President of the Faculty Women’s Club of U.B.C. in 1944 and 1946 in addition to being an active member of the University Women’s Club. Violet was one of the founders of the Burnaby Council of Women and active member of the International Council of Women.
A special project during World War II was Violet’s work to establish the Valleyview Community Association which began as the Burnaby Lake Men’s Club. Despite its previous name, Violet was principle in the group’s activities in addition to a separate Valleyview Women’s Club. The two clubs established the Valleyview Community Centre which operated a kindergarten and was the focus for many community functions. The Women’s Club worked at the war effort and in 1947 became the Valleyview Health group which among many projects raised funds for the Burnaby Hospital.
Violet also presided over the Eagles Estate entertaining, which was a major focus. Many of the functions were to support Blythe’s role as head of the agriculture department. When dignitaries arrived in Vancouver to speak at U.B.C., the Eagles were often called upon to hold garden parties and dinners. Violet confidently boasted “I could handle up to eighty people. We had eighty dinner plates. When we didn’t have enough chairs for everyone, some would sit on the floor.” Violet’s attention to community affairs was well known. When Simon Fraser University was established in Burnaby in 1965, no civic leader had thought to welcome the faculty. Violet thought this oversight was unforgivable and organized a special party to welcome University staff to Burnaby.
