Sheila Baxter (September 22, 1933 – December 19, 2022) was a Canadian anti-poverty activist and author who wrote several books about poverty and mental illness in Canada.
On September 28, 2017, Baxter was awarded the governor general sovereign medal for volunteers, for co-foundeding Chez Doris, a shelter for women, that has grown significantly since opening in 1977.
Due to her dedicated efforts, many marginalized and vulnerable women found support and safety.
Baxter also co-founded Chez Doris, a drop-in centre for women living on the streets of Montreal,[1] and has more recently been active in Vancouver, British Columbia, as a counsellor and welfare advocate at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre.
[2] Baxter is a poet, educator and author of five books on poverty and homelessness, and is currently active with the Vancouver City-Wide Housing Coalition.