Barbara Aggerholm (Waterloo 150 Profile)

Barbara Aggerholm

Barbara Aggerholm is an award-winning journalist and children’s book author who has spent more than 25 years crafting the stories of our community into news that inspires readers.

As a reporter at The Record, she has distinguished herself as a journalist who excels at both reporting and writing. After writing thousands of articles for daily newspapers, Aggerholm used her talent to write a chapter book for children called The Phantom Piper (2005).

She has won and been nominated for many Western Ontario Newspaper Awards, and in 1987 Aggerholm was honoured with a citation of merit for one of journalism’s most prestigious prizes - the Michener Award.

Aggerholm and her colleague, Luisa D’Amato, were cited for their series of articles on racism in Waterloo Region’s schools. “Bigotry in Our Schools” and “The Search for Harmony” also received an honourable mention from the League for Human Rights of B’nai B’rith Canada.

“Their work is significant in demonstrating the potential for people at a very young age to be exposed to prejudice. . . the courage of Barbara Aggerholm and Luisa D’Amato must be recognized. The region of Waterloo has been enriched by their presence and their significant contribution to human rights,” a B’nai B’rith spokesperson said.

In addition to The Record, Aggerholm has written for The Winnipeg Free Press and The Brandon Sun, where she became Canada’s youngest city editor. While at The Record, Aggerholm has written and reported on a vast array of topics including health, social services, education and politics.

Throughout her career, Aggerholm has tackled difficult issues like violence against women and the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease, and in-depth articles about university research and academic profiles, while still writing whimsical tales about animals and children.

The Phantom Piper was inspired by the summers she spent as a child near Lake Huron in Kincardine, Ontario. Her story involves a boy named David who spends the summer with his grandfather. David and his new friend Emily become captivated by the legend of the phantom piper and their own experience of the mysterious melody that wafts over the lake in the evening.

“Kincardine is a special place for me,” Aggerholm said after the book was published. “My Dad built us a cottage overlooking Lake Huron. One of my favourite activities as a child was marching behind the pipers every summer Saturday night. And now my husband, Craig, our children, Kevin and Tess and I enjoy the same weekly trip behind the pipe band.”

Photo courtesy of The Record, Waterloo Region, Ontario Canada 2005