Barbara Matheson was born in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan May 29, 1944 to Selkirk Settlers the Mathesons and the Burrows but lived her early years in Winnipeg.

 

She attended Qu’Appelle Diocesan School in Regina in the early 60’s and went on to study at the University of Toronto. She worked for the CBC as an electrical/lighting technician, showing her hands on work skills. As a spiritual person she spent time at the convent of the Sisters of St. John the Divine. Barb’s main commitment was to her interests in therapy and healing. Barb volunteered in Mexico for several years becoming fluent in Spanish. Retuning to live in Calgary she was involved in social services and community action.

 

She then returned to Winnipeg and bought a small fixer upper house in the inner-city community of North Point Douglas where she lived for the past 20 years.

 

Barb was a quiet activist in North Point Douglas. She served as Secretary of the North Point Douglas Residents’ Committee for many years. She was treasurer of SISTARS when Eagle Wing Child Care Centre was built and Barber House, the oldest house in Winnipeg, was brought back to life. In spite of having no financial background, she managed eight different funders and a budget of over a million dollars to bring these two important parts of the community’s social fabric to fruition.

 

Barb worked in human services and graduated as a Social worker at the age of 75. She became a registered Family Therapist and continued seeing families in need in her home office on Stephens street until a few months before her death.

 

Barb was active in making Point Douglas a safer community. She was a strong supporter of the Point Powerline and was one of the first residents to identify and close a major drug dealer, spotting a brand new Hummer visiting a suspect house on her street.

 

Barb loved her little house on Stephens and spent many happy hours as a handywoman, fixing things in her house and making her back yard a glorious garden. Barb will miss her Point Douglas life and Point Douglas will miss her.

 

Barb was a keen sportsperson and played competitive badminton in her youth. She was out playing tennis until this fall and followed tennis and basketball on the TV.

 

Barb had a wonderful circle of friends who rallied around her as her health deteriorated.

 

She is loving remembered by Sel Burrows, her cousin and mentor as well as her brother John Matheson (Anne) and loving nieces and nephews and many caring friends.

 

Always remembered and ever in our hearts.

 

A memorial service will be held in the coming weeks.

 

Barb's family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.