Margaret was born on October 1, 1934, in Noranda, Quebec—a place that would mark only the very beginning of her journey. Just days later, on October 9, she moved to Amos, Quebec, where her early childhood quietly unfolded.

She attended a small private English school, the kind that feels almost unimaginable today. There were only six to eight students, all learning together in a single-room setting. An apartment was even built into the schoolhouse to accommodate the teacher, and from Grades 1 through 6, it was the same close-knit group of children growing up side by side. It was a simple, steady, and deeply connected way to learn—one where everyone knew each other, and where childhood felt contained and safe.

That sense of stability changed in October 1945, when her father passed away far too soon. It was a defining moment—one that reshaped the course of her life. Soon after, Margaret moved to Truro, Nova Scotia, to the home that had been built on the family farm. There, she began a new chapter.

She continued her education in Truro, completing Grades 7 and 8 at Alice Street Elementary School, and then moving on to Colchester County Academy for Grades 9 and 10. But Margaret’s path was never going to be entirely conventional. For Grade 11, she attended Havergal College in Toronto—an experience that broadened her world. And then, in a decision that spoke to her independence and quiet determination, she chose not to return for Grade 12. Instead, she set her sights ahead and left early to attend Mount Allison University.

It was there, in September 1950, that she met Wallace McCain at a dance—the kind of moment that would later feel like fate. He was in his fourth year and would later recall that she looked “very young—not 16.” Their story didn’t begin all at once, though. Their first official date wouldn’t come until late May of 1954, after years of crossing paths and growing into themselves.

During that time, Margaret was building her own path with focus and purpose. She completed an Honours Degree in History, graduating with distinction in May 1954. Not one to stop there, she continued her studies and earned a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Toronto in May 1955.

From a tiny classroom in Amos to university halls and life-changing encounters, Margaret’s early years were shaped by resilience, independence, and a quiet strength that would define everything that came after.