A heart of gold is the Mary Barton way

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This article was published 02/10/2020 (1852 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When I first Googled the name Mary Barton, I read she was the protagonist of an 1848 novel. Although it sounded like an interesting read, she was not the Mary Barton I was looking for.

It turns out the Irish-born, early childhood educator from Winnipeg I was looking for is a real life heroine.

Barton is a well-respected, longtime early childhood educator in the Riverview area for the past 40 years. She worked 30 of those years at the Riverview Ashland Child Care Centre, and her dedication to the daycare children was celebrated at her retirement party in 2019. This year she got her way in the form of an honorary street named Mary Barton Way, situated at Montgomery Avenue.

In these pandemic times, early childhood educators “feel embattled but emboldened with a street named after their mentor,” said Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry). Rollins put forward the successful motion for what she claimed is the first honorary sign in tribute to an early childhood educator.

Things were not always easy for Barton after emigrating from Northern Ireland with  her husband, Paul.

They lived on Walker Avenue when they arrived in Winnipeg and, while their children had a school life, it was more difficult for the newly-arrived young parents to bond with their surroundings.

“It was kind of hard to find your roots, even with two children. We still pined for home a lot, my husband and I,” Barton recalled.

At one point, they even sold their house and took an apartment, planning to return to the home country. A change of heart ensued.

“It took a lot to get us out here and we had made sad and difficult decisions. I thought we were rushing things so we put the brakes on,” Barton said.

Another house was bought in Riverview and ties to the neighbourhood developed.

“People were slowed down and took the time to talk. It reminded me of home,” she said.

For years, Barton ran a very scheduled family daycare from her home and realized there was a need in the community. She was instrumental in the creation of the Riverview Ashland Day Care Centre. Barton credits management at the daycare for its nurturing environment.

“The nice thing about working at Riverview Ashland (is that it) was a place where you can go in there to work and you’re permitted and encouraged to take all of those things that you value,”  she said. “I didn’t have to be someone else, I didn’t have to change the way I talked.” 

Today, Barton is an iconic figure in Riverview. Ashland Day Care Centre director Michelle Lange, who worked alongside Barton for 28 years said, “Everyone in the neighbourhood knows her as the Irish lady who walks her little dog, Peanut, all over Riverview. She happily engages everyone with her unique Irish charm and sense of humour.”

Lange describes ‘our Mary’ as having developed “amazing, lasting relationships with the children in her care and their families. She had this intuitive bond with children and they all knew if they needed something, she would be there for them.”

Echoing that sentiment is Mary Swain, another former colleague who describes Barton as, “An amazing person, gentle, kind with a heart of gold … a mentor, early childhood educator, friend, and co-worker. She used to tell us stories about Ireland. She taught me how to make cinnamon buns with her recipe. She was always on top of everything at work and always helped you or showed you different ways of doing things.”

I am told that, of the many children Barton cared for and mentored, she always encouraged young women to be strong.

One such woman is her own daughter, Rosemary. If that name sounds familiar, that may be because Rosemary Barton is CBC’s chief political correspondent. In a 2017 interview, Rosemary said her mother is her inspiration whom “she calls to discuss the hard things and tough decisions.”

When I asked Mary Barton what she thought of an honorary street named after her, I discover it came as a surprise.

How did Barton react?

“Totally blown away, I’m so overwhelmed. It was in the works and I didn’t know anything about it,” she said.

Armande Bourgeois Martine is a correspondent for Crescentwood. Reach her at 1martine789@gmail.com