Barbara Kay is a well-known columnist with the National Post  newspaper in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Barbara graduated from the University of Toronto in English Language and Literature and received her M.A. in Literature from McGill University with a specialty in the modern American novel. 

She received a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship upon graduation from the University of Toronto.

Barbara taught Literature and Composition at Concordia University, Mariannopolis College, Dawson College, and Vanier College for many years.

She has also taught courses in Critical Reading at private and public institutions in Montreal, such as The Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts and the Jewish Public Library.

Barbara is a well known book reviewer on the circuit of Montreal’s private and institutional book clubs.

Barbara founded and is the editor in chief of FIRSTFRUITS,  an annual anthology of creative writing published by the Jewish Public Library,  in publication for over twenty years.

Barbara was a frequent contributor of op/eds, book reviews and humour pieces to the National Post, then became a Comment page columnist (Wednesdays) in September, 2003. 

Barbara has served on and chaired many communications, cultural and fundraising committees at the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts and the Jewish Public Library. She was Chairman of Jewish Book Month for several years. She is a past president of the Jewish Public Library. As well, she served on the officers’  group of Canadian Jewish Congress/ Quebec Region.

Barbara served on the board of Cité libre for several years and was a frequent contributor to the magazine.