Campbell Barrett, a mechanical engineer who worked both in mining and in government and was a pioneer in enforcing mechanical safety standards in the mines of Ontario, has died, in Toronto, at age 76.
A graduate of the University of Toronto (1932) Mr Barrett worked first in mines in the Kirkland Lake, Ont., area (including the Teck Hughes and Wright-Hargreaves mines), later moving to the Northwest Territories, where he worked in senior engineering positions at the Eldorado mine at Great Slave Lake.
Following war service as an army captain, (he landed with the Canadian 2nd Division at Normandy), he joined the Ontario government as chief mechanical engineer responsible for safety concerning all mechanical functions in the province’s mines.
He subsequently held many positions with the department of mines and later department of natural resources, including chief inspector and department head for the inspection branch.
His son Robert, president of Barrett Technical Engineering Services, Markam, Ont., says that during his father’s career, “mine safety reached an all-time high, with other provinces and U.S. states, as well as other countries around the world, looking at Ontario for help in setting their standards.”
Mr Barrett retired in 1975, but carried on as a consultant. In that year he was the recipient of the Donald J. McParland Memorial Medal for outstanding service and contributions to the mining industry in Canada.
He was an active member and participant in the Association of Professional Engineers for the province of Ontario.
Surviving are his wife, Marion, son Robert, daughter Nancy, a brother, Edgar, and sisters Jean, Kathleen and Marion, as well as a number of grandchildren.
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