Maychai Brown

The Quebec Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity, Sam Hamad, recently honoured BCAM activist Carol Secter with an attestation recognizing the many facets of her involvement with the organization.

Soon after joining the Board of Directors in 2003, Carol developed an interest in the regulation of environmental toxins and presented a brief on behalf of BCAM at a public hearing on the City of Montreal’s proposed pesticide by-law. From that time, her interest has gravitated towards the regulation of toxins in personal care products, which became an issue she embraced tenaciously and imaginatively by helping to orchestrate public marches, demonstrations, and a “toxic dump” where products containing harmful ingredients were collected. She established a mutually beneficial relationship with the steering committee of the successful U.S.-based initiative, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

Carol was elected as President of the Board in 2006. Throughout her two-year term she encouraged BCAM to speak forcefully about the need to eliminate the marketing of chemicals associated with carcinogenesis. Carol forged links with other organizations working towards the same goals. Working with BCAM’s Safe Cosmetics committee and with an expanded staff of interns and employees, she oversaw the emergence of The Beast of Beauty and Breast Cancer Prevention in Action, programs in which trained volunteers talk to groups of women about product safety.

Her activism continued unabated after she stepped down from the role of president in 2008. Since then she has been an active board member and has served as advisor to the youth-focused safe cosmetics campaign, FemmeToxic.

Founding BCAM member and endorser of Carol’s nomination for the citation, Deena Dlusy Apel summed up Carol’s contribution: “She has tirelessly acted on our behalf and has carried us through times of transition.”

Carol Secter marching with her son, Sam Prussin