Margaret Jean Watson

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Margaret Jean Watson (née Mitchell), who died in Banff, a community she loved and had called home for the past 43 years.

Margaret was born in Armidale, in New South Wales, Australia, the second of four children born to Mary Nelson Mitchell (née Wood) and Jack Winslow Kester Mitchell, a grazier and WWI veteran.

Her childhood was in rural Australia, where community involvement was part of growing up, and where it was considered one's responsibility to look out for others. Community engagement remained a priority for Margaret throughout her life.

She excelled at school and moved to Sydney to train as a physiotherapist. After working in Sydney, in the Australian outback, and in New Zealand, she set her sights even further afield: her curiosity and sense of adventure led her, in 1966, at age 28, to board a boat bound for India; she would live overseas for the rest of her life, but she retained a strong connection to Australia, and returned regularly.

India was to be the start of an overland bus journey to London, and, as it turns out, much more. David Watson, her husband to be, was on the same bus. They went for coffee in Tehran: it was the beginning of what would be more than half a century of life together.

Margaret moved to Canada in 1967. She and David married in Victoria in 1969 and lived and worked in various other places in Canada – including Kelowna, Inuvik and Winnipeg – before eventually settling in Banff, where she arrived with her young family in 1979. Her adventurous spirit would remain with her throughout her life, taking her on many memorable travels within Canada and around the world.

Margaret was open-minded, generous, thoughtful, and caring. She loved nature and wildlife and never took for granted the beautiful place she called home. Over the years she and David welcomed countless visitors into their home, and their lives. Their hospitality was extraordinary. Family, friends, friends of friends, hitchhikers. All were welcome: some stayed for a day, others for a year or more. She also opened her heart and her home to furry, four-legged friends: many wonderful dogs found a loving home at the Watson residence over the years.

Margaret was an advocate for active, healthy living, and she took advantage of the spectacular opportunities the mountain parks had to offer, whether camping, hiking, x-country skiing, or just being outside. Her children benefitted from her love of the outdoors and gained her sense of adventure and appreciation. She volunteered actively for the Girl Guides in the 1980s, supporting dozens of trips and campouts. She was active in the Banff Nordic Ski Club throughout the 1990s and helped run the Banff rowing club. She joined hiking groups and organised hikes throughout the parks, often taking visitors and newcomers to her favourite spots. As a volunteer, and later president, of the Banff Seniors Society, she encouraged seniors to remain active and engaged, and set an example through her own activities.

She loved the arts and was a lifelong advocate for literacy and education. She worked part-time for many years at the Banff Public Library, and encouraged in her children and others a love of reading and learning. She volunteered regularly at the Banff Centre Word Fest and Mountain Film Fest, and supported a range of literacy and learning projects. As a long-time volunteer with the Ladies Auxiliary to the Mineral Springs Hospital, she also used her creativity and skill with knitting and sewing to create many projects in support of the hospital.

Margaret was a long-time and active member of the United Church – choosing it in part because of its progressiveness among faiths, and the values it placed on openness and diversity, values that she believed should be self-evident.

While much of her time was spent volunteering within the local community, she also knew that the greatest need was usually elsewhere: she was an active member of the Stephen Lewis Foundation 'Mountain Grannies' group, in support of those living in poverty in rural Africa, and she helped organise funds and welcoming support for refugees settling in Canada and the Bow Valley, among other causes.

Despite her many contributions, she rejected praise or accolades. Good work was to be done because it was good, and because someone needed to do it, not to gain recognition or appreciation. Indeed, Margaret was strong-willed and held many clear convictions. And she didn't suffer fools lightly. Despite this, she had a light-hearted touch and a wonderful and warm – if somewhat dry – sense of humour.

True to her strong-willed nature, she managed one final visit to Australia in June/July of this year, where she saw the Opera House lit up with enchanting artwork as part of the Vivid Sydney festival of lights, and where she was able to visit with many family members and dear friends.

Margaret loved her family deeply, and was devoted to her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, David, her sisters, June and Anne, her brother John, her children, Paul (Joanna), Catherine and Michael (Hannah), her grandchildren, Mackenzie, Parker, Lucy, Hannah, Theodore and Sebastian, many other relatives in Canada and Australia, and countless friends around the world.

A special thanks to Dr. Hoegh-Peterson, and to other doctors, nurses and staff at Mineral Springs hospital in Banff who provided professional and compassionate care for her over many months, as well as all those in Canmore and Calgary who cared for and supported her throughout her illness with cancer and in her final weeks and months.

Margaret was happiest outdoors, and among her favourite activities was seeking out and admiring wildflowers in bloom in the Canadian Rockies. In this spirit, a springtime event will be organised in remembrance.

Those wishing to honour Margaret's life and spirit are encouraged to get out for a ski, a hike or a walk, to volunteer in their local community, and to make a donation to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) or Pearson College UWC.

Margaret would have preferred a short, simple obituary: "I died".

But the last word is given to the living, and Margaret was an extraordinary woman who lived life fully, on her own terms, and who tried to make the world a better place through her many own small actions. She will be dearly missed.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.