June Callwood (born June 2, 1924 in Chatham, Ontario) is a Canadian journalist, author and social activist.

After entering journalism at the Brantford Expositor, Callwood began writing for The Globe and Mail in 1942. She married journalist Trent Frayne in 1944, but continued to use her own surname because the Globe and Mail did not hire married women at the time.

Callwood later became a freelance journalist, writing books and magazine pieces, many for Maclean's.

In 1975, Callwood entered television journalism, hosting the series In Touch on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1975 to 1978. She has also hosted two series, National Treasures and Caregiving with June Callwood , for Vision TV.

Callwood's career has been marked by a strong concern for social justice, especially on issues affecting children and women. She has become one of Canada's most famous social justice activists, founding or cofounding over 50 Canadian social action organizations including youth and women's hostels, a Toronto hospice for people with AIDS, PEN Canada and the Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation .

She was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1978. She was promoted to Officer in 1985, and promoted again to Companion in 2000. In 2004, the city of Toronto also noted its intention to name a street in Callwood's honour. This street has not yet been chosen, as Callwood has requested that an existing street not be renamed for her. Instead, she has asked for a new or currently unnamed street near a school or a playground.

Also in 2004, Callwood went public about her battle with cancer.

Selected Works

• Emma - 1984
• Emotions - 1986
• Twelve Weeks in Spring - 1986
• Jim: A Life With AIDS - 1988
• The Sleepwalker - 1990
• Portrait of Canada - 1991
• Trial Without End - 1994
• June Callwood's National Treasures - 1994
• The Man Who Lost Himself - 2000

External links

• June Callwood biography at Library and Archives Canada