Margaret Grant

1922 - 2012

On July 4, 2012, Marg passed away peacefully at her home in the Riverwood Square on Pembina Highway. Predeceased by beloved husband Alan (Bill), Marg will be sadly missed by daughters Cindy Meleck (Mike), Penny Kelly (Brian) and Carol Dellevoet (John); grand-daughters Shawn Dellevoet (Urs Bill), Alexandra Dellevoet and Marisa and Christina Meleck as well as great-grandchildren Ariana and Siena Bill and Theo Martinez.

Marg lived all of her life in Fort Garry and was synonymous with aquatics in Manitoba. In her twenties and thirties, she was a member of a war-boat racing canoe team and a tandem racing shell team at the ‘Y’ Canoe Club. She and husband Bill were stalwarts of the club's organization. When it wasn't yet fashionable to be an employed mother, she taught swimming at the YWCA, setting a good example for her daughters. Marg earned all of the Royal Live Saving Society aquatic awards including the highest achievement possible, the ‘Diploma,’ which was presented to her in 1959 at the opening of the Fort Garry Lions Club Pool. As an engaged member of the community, she initiated and set-up a complete learn-to-swim and water safety program in Fort Garry. In appreciation, in 1972, the local council named a pool after her - the Margaret Grant Pool in Fort Richmond. Marg also taught swimming for the Red Cross in the summer at Falcon Lake and later for many years in the City of Winnipeg program at the Pan Am Pool. She is fondly remembered by the many, many people who credit her with teaching them to swim.

In addition, Marg taught and coached synchronized swimming; was an engaged board member of Synchro Manitoba and served a term as president. She was an active national synchro judge, and for many years enjoyed travelling to judge competitions across the country and meeting with her colleagues and friends. Even in later years Marg continued to enjoy teaching synchro to her "group of ladies".

Always a very active person, Marg loved the family cottage at Falcon Lake and was a super trick water-skier well past the age where most would have moved on to less rigorous sports. Dancing all evening at a good party was her idea of fun. Ever ahead of her era, to the chagrin of her daughters, she rode her bike to do her grocery shopping. An avid independent traveller, and loving new experiences, she retained vivid memories of the many places she visited around the world.

As a member of the Fort Garry Historical Society Marg loved leading school children on tours of the area she knew so well, hoping to impart her sense of community.

The family wishes to thank the WHRA Home Care aids and nursing staff, particularly Hayley, Tamera and Tracy who assisted Mom with her eye drops. They were compassionate and thoughtful. Mom also greatly appreciated the helpful staff at Riverwood Square.

Please join the family at a memorial reception in celebration of Marg’s life on Monday, July 16, 2 pm at Thomson “In the Park”, 1291 McGillivray Blvd.

For those who wish, donations could be made in Marg’s memory to CancerCare Manitoba.