Patricia Burns Keir Prize in Canadian Art
A member of one of Victoria's founding families, Katrina Patricia Keir has lived in Victoria and Montreal, working as a librarian and maintaining a life-long interest in art.
Mrs. Keir was born in Victoria, a grandchild of Senator William J. Macdonald, who was twice mayor of Victoria, resigning during his second term upon his appointment to the Senate of Canada where he represented British Columbia when the province joined Confederation in 1871.
As a child, Mrs. Keir was educated by a governess. She attended St. Anne's Academy between the ages of 11 and 18 years. In 1920, she moved to Montreal where she completed training as a librarian at McGill University. Following her graduation in 1922, she began work at the University and worked there for the next 37 years, becoming Head of several faculty libraries.
In 1927, she married Thomas Gardiner Keir, with whom she returned to Victoria upon her retirement in 1959, and became involved in the Maritime Museum and several arts and heritage societies, more particularly the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
This award was established by her friend Professor S. W. Jackman, in recognition of her interest and support of the arts in Canada.