McBrien, Robert Elwood

Born near Campbellford, ON; deaf at 7 from spinal meningitis. Ontario School for the Deaf, Belleville 1911-1917, Belleville Collegiate Institute 1917-1918, Peterborough College Institute 1918-1921, University of Toronto 1921-1925 (B.A.Sc.). Draftsman for a metal fabrication factory; married Margaret Loretta Whalen in 1926; and worked for Canadian General Electric Company 1928 to about 1969. Designed many of the major components for hydro-electric engineering projects around Canada and in Brazil and New Zealand. After the death of his first wife, remarried to Blanche Pauline Brewer in 1933. Active in Canadian deaf organizations, including being the main founder of the Canadian Association of the Deaf.