MARGARET ANNE MACLEOD

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MARGARET ANNE MACLEOD

February 10, 1939 – Dauphin, Manitoba

December 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario

Mother. Educator. Actress. Lawyer.

Now 1 year after Margaret Anne’s passing, we find our sense of loss and admiration for our mother only growing. MA was a woman ahead of her time. Smart, precocious, and quick on her feet, she had an insatiable curiosity and appetite for culture, music, travel, reading, and education. Dare to inquire on any matter, be it Greek Mythology (she named the family cats Odysseus and Circe), the newest exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery or the National Gallery, or her sojourns later in life in the Middle East or beyond, and she would regale and mesmerize with facts, insights, experiences, and opinions. Her storytelling was legendary, “…it gets better than that…” with a wave of the hand being a favourite expression.

MA was born to perform. She thrived on artistic expression and the challenges of transforming into character on stage as an actor. Her creative senses were activated fully in theatre or film, her commitment to character all-encompassing, and the joy it brought to her life was immense. She progressed from productions at the Black Hole Theatre at the University of Manitoba (such as Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf) to featuring in acclaimed films, some directed by Guy Maddin (including Tales from the Gimli Hospital). She thrived through acting, continually sharpening her techniques and skills, whether on stage or in a court of law, a tribunal hearing, over dinner and drinks, or especially when engaging with her children.

Achievement was in her DNA and MA excelled at whatever captured her attention and interest, be it Highland Dancing, Royal Conservatory trained pianist, University courses, or sketch and sculpture. MA was accepted to the University of Manitoba at age 16 and her charisma and intellect earned her the Snow Queen crown. Completing her B.Sc. (Home Econ.) she initially became a teacher, then a mother of 5 children, all within the 1960’s. She returned to university as a single parent, and completed next a B.Ed. degree, then a B.A. and an LLB by the age of 42. An unconventional mother, MA was featured by Chatelaine Magazine as an icon of her era (with honourable mention to her children who lived on her rice pudding and tourtière, and learned to independently cook, clean, do laundry, and arrange grocery deliveries).

After a brief period in legal practice, MA joined the Law Society of Manitoba as a Legal Educator, and then the Department of Immigration in Toronto and then Ottawa. In her distinguished career, she traveled extensively with diplomatic postings throughout the Middle East. This was of peak interest, appealing to her sense of adventure, connection, and cultural curiosity. She was particularly proud of her service in pre-war Syria and the UAE and spoke passionately about her experiences, and the many close lasting relationships from her postings.

Mom’s love for her family was equally immense (albeit often tested as a single parent of 5 young children), as was her love of Hebridean culture and Dress MacLeod tartan. Her spirit, drive, and independence were fierce, and she imparted her relentless curiosity and energy to her children. A role model for achievement, her single greatest loss was the tragic passing of her daughter, our sister, Jennifer, an unresolved sorrow.

MA believed in experiences over extravagance, affording big, bold, beautiful storytelling, and did not suffer fools. She left this world on her own terms, as she had lived, and explicitly did not want a service or an announcement. This is therefore our final act of disobedience, as her life was too brave, bold, and passionate to go uncelebrated. As you remember Margaret Anne, raise a glass and say out loud slainte mhath (pron. SLAN -cha VAH), toasting an accomplished life explored and lived fully.

MA is survived by her four sons, Allan (Gheena Villanueva) Foran, James (Mary Prendergast) Foran, Neil (Laura) Foran, and Colin Foran; her grandchildren, Sarah, Hannah, Allan Jr., Samuel, William, and Hugh. She leaves behind her younger siblings Angus MacLeod and Catherine MacLeod and her nieces and nephews, including Donald (Evan) Travers-Walker with whom she was very close and was a great comfort to her. MA was predeceased by her parents Norman and Margaret (nee Paterson) MacLeod from the Isle of Lewis, her ex-husband James E. (Cynthia Mae) Foran, and her daughter, Jennifer Lynne Foran, a loss she carried with her.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 20, 2025