Roberta (nee Worthington) Avery, born October 1948, in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, led an enterprising life of differing skills. But always her writing talent prevailed, leading her to prominence and awards as a journalist for The Toronto Star.
Graduating from Colwyn Bay Grammar School, Roberta excelled in the sciences and became a Cosmetic Scientist working in a research facility. Her mother was a senior nurse, her father worked for the Sunday Times. As a teenager and onwards, Roberta had articles and stories published in UK magazines.
On a rock climbing date, she met John Avery, an airplane technologist. They married in 1968. Four years later, when their son, Paul was 9 months old, Roberta and John decided to emigrate to Canada. After a stint in Toronto, they bought a property on the picturesque harbour of Meaford, two hours north of Toronto. John traded his airplane technologist skills in, for building a small restaurant there. Roberta obtained her professional chef’s diploma. For many years their Fisherman’s Wharf was the place to dine and watch the sunset or see boats on the bay.
Meanwhile, Roberta also wrote articles for the Meaford Chamber of Commerce and the Grey Bruce County Association. In 1989, she saw a small ad in the Owen Sound Sun Times: “Wanted, private detective.” Intrigued, Roberta detected who wrote the ad and applied for it. She did not get the job but The Sun Times was so impressed by her investigative work, they offered her a job as a correspondent. This launched her career as a newspaper reporter, eventually leading to her assignments with the Toronto Star.
Roberta wrote over 1,000 articles for the Toronto Star and was given 8 major journalism awards. In 1992, it was her investigative reporting, over the course of two years that exposed the Walkerton water scandal. Negligent treatment of the water system caused the serious illness of 2,300 children and adults and the death of seven people. Roberta was then nominated for journalism’s highest honour, The National Newspaper Award.
By 2000, Roberta Avery had become a full-time correspondent for the Toronto Star, covering subjects as diverse as Criminal Court proceedings, issues and restaurant reviews. In her senior years, Roberta also wrote articles for a new magazine, On The Bay. A reporter of high integrity, she was known to turn down any job requesting her to take a side on an issue rather than do objective, investigative reporting.
Roberta and John Avery also ran a high-end bed and breakfast on Irish Mountain overlooking Georgian Bay from 1991 to 2022. They never stopped enjoying hiking in their Escarpment neighbourhood, their winter home in Arizona and on trips to the UK, the Alps or Rockies. Whenever possible one of their succession of beautiful dogs accompanied them. In Arizona, they fostered rescue dogs. Without question, a super wife and mother, Roberta was also a true and generous friend to many, providing encouragement and sometimes refuge for other writers.
Roberta Avery, surrounded by family and friends, died bravely of pancreatic cancer on July 5, 2024 at age 75. She will be sorely missed by her husband John, her son Paul, his wife Lisa, their sons, Luke and Sawyer, her brother, Roy Worthington plus all her friends.
There will be a celebration of life for Roberta on Sunday, July 14 at 4 p.m. at the Irish Mountain Lookout - 265351 Side Rd 25, Meaford.
In memory of Roberta, donations to Hospice Georgian Triangle – Campbell House would be appreciated by the family.