Katherine Barber
“Canada's Word Lady”
201 Hanson Street
Toronto, ON M4C 1A7
416.693.4496
“I recommend Ms. Barber highly.
She is articulate, intuitive, has the timing of the finest stand-up comedian and
She is articulate, intuitive, has the timing of the finest stand-up comedian and
the acuity of the sharpest academic.
She has the power to engage her audience and
make them wiser than they were
before her thoughtful monologue.”
Geoff Roberts, Headmaster, The Crescent School, Toronto
“For
the past three days I have been receiving phone calls and emails
from
CFUW members expressing
their delight with your presentation.
One member pointed out how rare it is
to find a speaker
who can deliver learned and fascinating content
with wonderful wit.
Another
simply said that you were the best speaker we have had in the past 3 years.”
Anna Guthrie, Program convenor, University Women's Club of North Toronto
"You were key in making our event a success."
Marg Bowman, Grimsby Museum
Anna Guthrie, Program convenor, University Women's Club of North Toronto
"You were key in making our event a success."
Marg Bowman, Grimsby Museum
Best-selling author
Canadian Oxford Dictionary
(over a year on the Globe and Mail bestseller list)
Six Words You Never Knew Had Something to do With Pigs
(14 weeks on the Maclean's bestseller list)
Only in Canada, You Say: A Treasury of Canadian English
Media Personality
“The Word Lady”. Regular word history segment on CBC Radio,1996 to 2001
Regular TV and radio appearances as an expert on
language in general and Canadian English in particular
“Say It” weekly word history in the Toronto Star,
January 2009 to March 2011
Speaker
No matter what I'm talking about, I make people laugh. A lot.
Over 200 speaking engagements across Canada and in the US in the last 10 years
Over 200 speaking engagements across Canada and in the US in the last 10 years
Clients: Government of Ontario, Government of Canada, crown corporations,
Probus Clubs, Canadian Clubs, Rotary Clubs, University Women's Clubs,
Probus Clubs, Canadian Clubs, Rotary Clubs, University Women's Clubs,
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, Ryerson LIFE Institute, lifelong learning and retired teachers associations, public libraries, professional associations, schools, universities, church groups, The National Ballet of Canada
Expert Witness (trademark litigation)
Expert Witness (trademark litigation)
Heenan Blaikie LLP
Peacock Linder LLP
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
Peacock Linder LLP
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
Topics
Why is English so wacky?
A fun-filled and light-hearted but informative look at the weirdness of the English language and how it got to be the way it is. Includes things you never suspected about husbands, ptarmigan, porcelain, and much more. Laughs guaranteed...even when you find out why "guarantee" has such an odd spelling.
A fun-filled and light-hearted but informative look at the weirdness of the English language and how it got to be the way it is. Includes things you never suspected about husbands, ptarmigan, porcelain, and much more. Laughs guaranteed...even when you find out why "guarantee" has such an odd spelling.
“Bachelor for Rent:
Things You Never Suspected About
Canadian English”
Canadian English”
A hilarious look at what is distinctive about
Canadians and their language
“Plain English:
How to Improve your Communications”
“English Schminglish: How Jews have Enriched our Language”
An entertaining look at how Hebrew and Yiddish words have enriched the English language for thousands of years
An entertaining look at how Hebrew and Yiddish words have enriched the English language for thousands of years
Awards and Honours
Editor of the Year Libris Award,
Canadian Booksellers Association, 1999
Book of the Year Libris Award,
Canadian Booksellers Association, 1999
Specialty Book of the Year Libris Award,
Canadian Booksellers Association, 1999
Distinguished Alumni Award,
University of Winnipeg, 2000
Kenneth R.
Wilson Silver Award
(Canadian Business Press and Magazines Canada), 2010