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The description of a leading Mississauga senior citizen of great character and longevity sounded awfully familiar: unselfish, feisty, "ready to take on any battle," and "someone who's made a real difference in the community."
But this time, it was Mayor Hazel McCallion dishing out those words, not on the receiving end of them.
McCallion was among a great number of family and friends who visited Roy Clifton's Snug Harbour Restaurant yesterday afternoon to recognize the remarkable mark that Dorothy Jamieson, who celebrates her 90th birthday today, has made on the city.
"She has made a major contribution to her country and the world," said McCallion, a long-time friend of Jamieson, a World War II vet who has made a habit of breaking the mould.
When Winston Churchill came to inspect the Fighter Control Operations tower that she ran with typical efficiency during World War II, it was Dorothy who Sir Winston chose to guide the tour. He is one of her two all-time heroes (the other is Franklin Roosevelt.)
When she marred Ronald Jamieson and came to Canada after six years in the RAF, they settled in Mississauga to raise a family.
When her daughter Pat became interested in canoeing, Jamieson got interested in the Mississauga Canoe Club. She jumped in with both feet and went on to become its first female commodore, the first woman on the executive of the Canadian Canoe Association and the first-ever female timer at an Olympic Games, in Montreal in 1976.
Among those honouring Dorothy yesterday were Port Credit-born Jim Reardon, one of seven Mississaugans to compete in the 1972 Munich Games and Larry Cain of Oakville, whom Reardon coached and launched on a career that saw him win gold and silver medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Over the years, Jamieson has gone to war to fight many battles with the same characteristic zeal. When her long-time employer Johns-Manville stiffed thousands of Canadians out of their rightful pensions, it was Dorothy who led the 13-year legal and political fight to get their money back, which she did.
One of the other of many causes she has adopted over the years: getting appropriate pension benefits for British expatriates of the war like herself who are stuck on fixed rates. By the time she wins that fight, she might be the last one alive to collect it, joked McCallion.
Other pet Dorothy causes include getting a memorial in Britain to recognize the outstanding contribution of women to the war effort (now done) and getting recognition for the hundreds of war brides who came to this country.
"When Dorothy gets behind something, all she needs is your support," said the mayor.
Jamieson is nothing if not well-connected. She's a regular guest on CFRB (broadcaster John Moore was there yesterday to speak) and is a fixture on Rogers Community Television. Every year she makes a big impact on the students at Fairwind Public School at their annual Remembrance Day ceremony.
Her good friend, Ward 1 Councillor Carmen Corbasson remarked yesterday that "I haven't met a good many of the people in this room, but I bet I've heard all of your names," a reference to Dorothy's world-class chatting and networking skills.
Maybe that's where her nephew, CBC's Peter Mansbridge, gets his nose for news.
There is a soft side to Jamieson though. Her niece Wendy Gunn (above with Dorothy) said she may be famous for pointing sharp objects at officialdom outside the family but she's famous for crossing sharp objects within it.
"She knits the most wonderful sweaters for everyone in the family in between the battles," Gunn said. "I don't know where she finds the time, but she is our champion sweater-maker."