Political trailblazer Margaret Birch was born in Leamington

SCARBOROUGH — The death of Margaret Birch last Thursday made the news all over Canada, but particularly hit home in Leamington, as the once prominent Conservative MPP was born and raised here.

Born Margaret Stewart on June 13, 1921, she settled in Scarborough in 1957 with her husband Guy Birch, where they raised two children.

She became Chair of the Scarborough Board of Health in 1963 and was instrumental in the building of the Scarborough Centenary Hospital in 1967.

She was named Scarborough’s Citizen of the Year in 1970, and that momentum carried her to victory in the 1971 Provincial Election, where she won the PC seat for the riding of Scarborough East. She retained that seat through four elections, until 1981.

In 1973, Margaret was appointed Minister without Portfolio under Ontario Premier Bill Davis and with that, became Ontario’s first-ever female cabinet minister. In 1974, she was appointed as the Provincial Secretary for Social Development. She retired from politics in 1985.

Although her life took her to such lofty positions, she never forgot her roots in Leamington, often returning to visit family. She enjoyed life on Pelee Island, where she and her family owned a second home.

As her 99th birthday approached, Margaret’s health began to fail in March of this year. She passed away October 29.