(June 30, 1941 to Sept. 30, 2021)
Margaret Elaine Plain passed away peacefully in her sleep early in the morning on September 30, 2021 at the Youville Continuing Care Home in St. Albert. Margaret was 80 years of age.
The family would like to thank all the healthcare personnel at the Youville Home, particularly those in Unit 1, for the care and kindness they provided to Margaret over the course of her stay at the facility.
Margaret is survived by her husband Richard, two sons Richard and Thomas, their wives Janet and Jaime, five grandchildren (Helena, Savanah, Ava, Hilary and Derek), her brother Hugh Sanders and his wife Margaret, their daughter Beth, son Scott and four grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her parents Gordon and Edna Sanders and her youngest son Robert in 2002.
Margaret graduated from Ross Shepherd High School in Edmonton and attended the University of Alberta where she received a BA in English.
Margaret met Richard Plain when they were both attending the University of Alberta. They were married at St. Andrews United Church in Edmonton and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 31, 2021 of this year.
Margaret and Richard moved to St. Albert in 1971 where they raised their three sons- Richard, Thomas and Robert.
Margaret’s life has been centered around her family and a strong commitment to help build, organize and support a variety of volunteer based community organizations and groups that serve the public interest.
In her early years in St. Albert, she served as a volunteer in the St. Albert elementary school system, the St. Albert United Church, the St. Albert Festival of the Arts and the St. Albert Children’s Theatre.
Later on Margaret helped found the St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families (SAIF) society. She served on the boards of various agencies and organizations such as the Sturgeon General Hospital Board, the Capital Health Authority Board, the Provincial Health Ethics Board and as President of the St. Albert Historical Society and the St. Albert Botanic Park.
Margaret served as Chair of Rendezvous 2011- the committee established by City Council to oversee the celebration of St. Albert’s 150th Anniversary. Work on the project started in 2008 and finished with the tabling of its final report on budget in 2012.
Margaret was also involved in the organization of many other major community events such as Celebrate 125, Homecoming 88 and the 1994 Alberta Winter Games.
Margaret served on St. Albert City Council for 5 terms: (1986-1989) with Mayor Richard Fowler, three consecutive terms with Mayor Ratchinsky, (1992-2001) and a final term (1998-2001) with Mayor Paul Chalifoux.
On April 21, 2010 Margaret Plain was named St. Albert Volunteer Citizen of the Decade.
A memorial service was held at 10 AM on October 12 at the Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home Chapel at 9 Muir Drive, St. Albert. A livestream presentation of the service was provided for people to view the service from the comfort and safety of their home during the present pandemic.
A post Covid-19 Celebration of Margaret’s life will be held next summer at the St. Albert Botanic Park amidst the floral displays contained in the beautiful gardens maintained by the Park’s volunteers.
A charitable donation may be made to the Margaret Plain Memorial Fund, St. Albert Botanic Park, Box 9 Stn Main, St. Albert AB, T8N 1N2 (https://www.Stalbertbotanicpark.com)
