Barbara Jane Sparrow ( O'Connor; July 11, 1935 – February 19, 2026) was a Canadian politician.
Political career
Sparrow, a Registered Nurse and businessperson, was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1984 federal election as Member of Parliament for the Alberta riding of Calgary South. That election brought the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to power under the leadership of Brian Mulroney. In that election she won the biggest plurality in Canadian history up to that time with 47,763 more votes than second place runner-up Harold Millican from the Liberal Party of Canada.
Redistribution of federal ridings by Elections Canada prior to the 1988 federal election abolished Sparrow's riding; in 1988, she ran and won in the new riding of Calgary Southwest. In 1991, she was named parliamentary secretary to the Minister of National Health and Welfare.
Philanthropy
Sparrow joined the Junior League of Calgary, Canada in 1961, and was elected President of the League in 1969. Sparrow was also a part of many Committees within the Junior League. In line with her philanthropic interests were human rights ones. In response to a constituent, she supported the Soviet Jewry movement in Canada by requesting permission to “adopt” a refusenik, and advocated directly to Soviet authorities on their behalf.
Personal life and death
Sparrow was married to her husband, Bob Sparrow, until his death in 1973.
Sparrow died in Calgary on February 19, 2026, at the age of 90.