Brita Ingegerd Olaisson was the first wife of Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. Born and raised in Sweden, she moved to Canada as a young woman and later met Lightfoot while he was building his music career. They married in April 1963 and had two children, Fred and Ingrid. Their marriage ended in 1973. Parts of their relationship and divorce later influenced several of Lightfoot’s songs, including If You Could Read My Mind.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Brita Ingegerd Olaisson |
| Also known as | Brita Olaisson |
| Birth year | Around 1935–1936 |
| Birthplace | Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Known for | Gordon Lightfoot’s first wife |
| Early work | Worked at M.P. Hofsetter in Toronto |
| Husband | Gordon Lightfoot |
| Marriage | April 1963 |
| Divorce | 1973 |
| Children | Fred Lightfoot and Ingrid Lightfoot |
| Remarried | No, according to available reports |
| Death | June 2005 |
| Age at death | 69 |
| Cause of death | Complications from a stroke |
Early Life in Sweden
Brita Ingegerd Olaisson was born and raised in Sweden. Her exact date and place of birth have not been publicly confirmed.
She was reportedly 69 when she died in 2005, which would place her birth around 1935 or 1936.
There is little public information about Brita’s family background. The names of her parents and siblings have not been widely reported. Details about her childhood and early education are also unknown.
Moving to Canada
Brita later left Sweden and moved to Canada. Reports say one reason for the move was to learn English.
After arriving in Canada, she worked at the Toronto office of a company identified as M.P. Hofsetter. Her exact position at the company is not documented in the available information.
Her later professional career is also unclear. Much of the information available about Brita focuses on her marriage and family rather than her work.
Meeting Gordon Lightfoot
Brita Ingegerd Olaisson reportedly met Gordon Lightfoot while he was on tour.
The exact date and place of their first meeting are not clearly documented. Their relationship developed while Lightfoot was still establishing himself as a professional musician.
The couple married in April 1963.
Lightfoot later spoke positively about Brita despite the problems that eventually ended their marriage. He described her as a good and strong person and said she provided an important sense of security in his life.
Who Was Gordon Lightfoot?
Gordon Lightfoot was born on November 17, 1938, in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.
He became one of Canada’s best-known singer-songwriters. His music covered folk, folk-rock, and country, and his songs gained audiences in Canada and internationally.
His well-known recordings include If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and Carefree Highway.
Albums such as Summer Side of Life, Don Quixote, Sundown, Old Dan’s Records, and Cold on the Shoulder helped establish his international career.
Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. He also received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.
Brita and Gordon Lightfoot’s Children
Brita Ingegerd Olaisson and Gordon had two children during their marriage:
- Fred Lightfoot
- Ingrid Lightfoot
The supplied information does not give Fred’s exact date of birth.
Ingrid was reportedly born on New Year’s Eve. By the time she was born, problems had already developed in her parents’ marriage.
Brita Ingegerd Olaisson took on much of the responsibility of caring for the children while Gordon traveled for his music career.
Problems in Their Marriage
Lightfoot’s career required him to spend long periods away from home.
He later admitted that he struggled with alcohol and was unfaithful during his marriage to Brita. Reports describe affairs and other relationships while he was traveling.
The couple also argued when he was home. During one argument, Lightfoot reportedly punched a door and broke his hand.
Lightfoot later accepted responsibility for many of the problems in the marriage. He said his career, drinking, and relationships with other women contributed to its breakdown.
Separation and Divorce
Brita Ingegerd Olaisson and Gordon eventually separated.
After they began living apart, Lightfoot reportedly visited Brita and their children and tried to repair the marriage. He later said that losing the security Brita provided made him understand how important she had been to him.
The relationship could not be restored.
Their divorce became official in 1973, ending their marriage after about ten years.
The divorce received considerable media attention in Canada. During the proceedings, Lightfoot reportedly admitted his adultery.
According to secondary reports, Brita received custody of Fred and Ingrid, monthly support of $4,500, and $150,000 toward a house. These figures should be treated as reported settlement details rather than independently verified court information.
Songs Inspired by Their Relationship
Brita and the breakdown of the marriage became connected with several of Lightfoot’s songs.
The most famous is If You Could Read My Mind. The song is widely associated with the emotions surrounding the failure of his first marriage.
Other songs reportedly connected with Brita include Can’t Depend on Love, You Are What I Am, and For Lovin’ Me.
Their daughter Ingrid later spoke about For Lovin’ Me. She said the song upset her because she understood it to be about her mother and her father’s relationships with other women.
Lightfoot later stopped performing the song and acknowledged that its subject had been embarrassing for Brita.
Brita’s Life After Gordon Lightfoot
Brita remained mostly private after the divorce.
She reportedly divided her time between homes near Lake Simcoe and in Montego Bay.
According to available reports, she never remarried.
Her daughter Ingrid later provided some details about her mother’s private life. Brita enjoyed gardening, cooking, and studying antiques.
Ingrid described her mother as happy, fun, and stable. She also said Brita took good care of herself and did not have major vices.
Brita Ingegerd Olaisson was especially close to her grandchildren and reportedly devoted a significant amount of time to them.
Brita Ingegerd Olaisson’s Death
Brita died in June 2005 at the age of 69.
Her death was reportedly caused by complications from a stroke.
Her exact date of death and burial location are not given in the supplied information.
Gordon Lightfoot lived for almost another 18 years. He died on May 1, 2023, at age 84. His family said he died of natural causes.
Did Brita Remarry?
Available reports say Brita Ingegerd Olaisson did not marry again after her 1973 divorce from Lightfoot.
Gordon, however, later married twice more.
He married Elizabeth Moon in 1989. They had two children, Meredith and Miles, and eventually divorced in 2011 after a long separation.
Lightfoot married his third wife, Kim Hasse, on December 19, 2014. They remained married until his death in 2023.
Net Worth
Brita Ingegerd Olaisson’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Although reports provide figures from her divorce settlement, those amounts do not establish her later wealth. There is no reliable public information about her income, investments, property value, or estate.
Interesting Facts
- Brita Ingegerd Olaisson was born and raised in Sweden.
- She moved to Canada to learn English.
- She worked in Toronto before her marriage.
- She married Gordon Lightfoot in April 1963.
- They had two children, Fred and Ingrid.
- Their marriage ended in divorce in 1973.
- Lightfoot admitted that drinking and infidelity contributed to their problems.
- Their marriage influenced some of his music.
- If You Could Read My Mind is closely connected with their breakup.
- Brita reportedly never remarried.
- She enjoyed gardening, cooking, and antiques.
- She spent time at Lake Simcoe and Montego Bay.
- She was close to her grandchildren.
- Brita died in June 2005 after complications from a stroke.
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