Biography
Dr. Dent was born and raised in Toronto. She came to Hamilton with husband Dr. Peter Dent, and daughters when Peter joined the new McMaster Medical School. A former nurse from the Hospital Sick Children in Toronto, Diane subsequently earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in French and English at McMaster, her Bachelor of Education at Brock University and her PhD at the University of Toronto. Diane’s community service in Hamilton began as founder of the Durand Neighbourhood Association in 1972. In 1978, Diane was invited to join Hamilton’s Municipal Heritage Committee (LACAC) and she acted as chair of that committee from 1986 until 2007. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, she worked closely with Councillors William McCulloch and Vince Agro to ensure Durand had a neighbourhood park, and to effect the rehabilitation of Sandyford Place, the Carnegie Library (now the Unified Family Court), the Bank of Montreal Building (now Gowlings Law office), the Pigott Sun Life Building and stained glass windows, Hamilton’s Main Post office (now the Sopinka Court House) and for 10 years with the Lister Lovers and the provincial government to secure the rehabilitation of the Lister Building. She also served as chair of the Education subcommittee of LACAC that produced among others the Doors of Hamilton poster. Since its inception in 1976, Diane has been involved with Heritage Hamilton Foundation and is currently chair. Since 1999 she has been working with interested citizens and the Ontario Heritage Trust with the goal of rehabilitating the Auchmar Estate, the former home of the Honourable Isaac Buchanan. In recognition of her volunteer commitments to the Durand Neighbourhood and to the preservation of Hamilton’s Architectural Heritage, Diane received most recently in 2011 the Margaret Gilmour Sustainer of the Year Award from the Junior League of Hamilton/Burlington. Other awards include; the Ontario Heritage Trust Life Time Achievement Award, the Heritage Community Recognition for more than 25years of Service in 2008, Volunteer Award in the Built and Cultural Categories, Ontario Heritage Trust’s Heritage Community Recognition Program in 2002, Governor General’s Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 1993, the Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism from the Ministry of Citizenship & Ministry of Culture and Communication was presented to Diane by the Honorable Lincoln Alexander, then Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, at Queen’s Park in 1988. In June 2012, Diane along with the board of the Durand Neighbourhood Association, the Mayor and Councillor Jason Farr, celebrated Durand’s 40th Anniversary. In 1999 Diane joined Redeemer University as French Professor and Director of Development and more recently Cooperative Education Outreach.