Lavington, Margaret

Margaret Lavington was born Margaret Paul to a Scottish-Canadian family in Vancouver, BC, in 1913. After a childhood in major cities, including Winnipeg, Victoria, and Sydney, Margaret became involved in the artistic and journalistic communities in Victoria and Vancouver, working for the Vancouver Sun, in a library, in art and secretarial roles, and later for the Workmen’s Compensation Board. In 1942, she joined the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, serving as an Intelligence Officer until 1945.

After returning to Vancouver, Margaret met Dude Lavington during his travels to the area in search of a wife and co-parent. The two maintained correspondence, and after her visit to Quesnel and the Bar HL Ranch, they decided to marry. Margaret and Dude were wed at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver on June 17, 1952, with Margaret’s friend Edith Weir serving as matron of honour, and Dude’s friend Ron Kolterman serving as best man. As she navigated major lifestyle changes in her transition to the ranch, Margaret quickly began providing ideas and learning new skills to improve operations. She also developed a close relationship with Jean, to whom she became a mother.

Margaret continued to express herself by drawing, singing, and crafting with Jean. Despite the ranch’s isolation, she maintained correspondence with hundreds of friends and family members throughout Canada. Her closest connections, including her mother, her father, John Ferguson Paul, her aunts, and her friend Edith Weir, visited the ranch. She also travelled regularly to Vancouver to stay with the Pauls, often bringing Jean along. Margaret became ill later in life, and after a scenic road trip to Cleveland, Ohio for a new treatment, she died on October 2, 1975. She was buried in the Quesnel & District Cemetery.