Dian Cohen

On December 1, 2005, the Sherbrooke and District branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) recognized the educational contribution of a local resident by presenting her with a lifetime honorary membership in CFUW.

This is only the second occasion in Sherbrooke & District’s 34 year history that an honorary membership has been bestowed. The honouree was Mary Jean Woodard Bean, who was born in North Hatley 84 years ago, taught children in a variety of Townships schools, including Mansonville, Bishopton, North Hatley and Alexander Galt, and whose most recent project has been the publication of a book about another Townshipper, Julia Grace Wales.

In addition to her teaching career, Mrs. Bean raised six children with her husband, Gordon, and earned a diploma in Special Education and a Bachelor of Education degree. A student of history, Mary Jean Woodard Bean spent 10 years researching the contribution of Julia Grace Wales. Distressed by the outbreak of war in 1914, Miss Wales developed a mediation plan, that had it been heeded by heads of state, might have stopped the war early on. According to Mrs. Bean’s research, Miss Wales’ work for peace eventually led to the organization of the League of Nations. Mrs. Bean’s book is titled Julia Grace Wales: Canada’s Hidden Heroine and the Quest for Peace 1914-1918.