I got a call from the local physiotherapist on SaltSpring Island 10 years ago to come in for an interview with a client who needed to transition from acute care to the next level. I was tasked to introduce movement, the gradual return to life, & maintain independent living. Suffice to say I passed the interview & spent the next 10 years seeing Margaret every week on Mon/Wed/Frid’s @ 11am. As the Manitoba farm girl, she was quite philosophical about pain, recovery, daily existence & doing whatever it took to get better.

Early on I shared that I lived in a geodesic dome & that clinched the deal between us. Margaret was a huge Buckminster Fuller fan having seen him speak on the grass @ Jericho in the 70’s, & having an ephiphany at that time. I am honored to have her copy of Bucky’s book in my collection & will always cherish it.

 The Fulton Hotel & Salon

I don’t know anyone, young or old, who had as many guests as her. She hosted hundreds of people. Overnight, over lunch, over the phone, over a glass of wine...

Everybody wanted a piece of her, & it was wearing on her as she couldn’t say no.
Quite remarkable to have students from 30,40, & 50 years ago calling her up or dropping in to talk. 

My role expanded over time, as required. We liked to call it the ever increasing job description. From computer tech, handyman, chauffeur (yes miss daisy), & the family tree memory back-up. I also enjoyed being the queen’s taster throughout the changing seasons as we ate our way around the neighborhood on our mid day walks quoting prose as the situation demanded & greeting passersby with a wave & a smile.
A common interest was our love of Nature & the marine environment with the appropriate literary quote to fit the occasion, "nature is never spent".

At the end, & I was with her on another sunny walk to the duck pond when she had a stroke, & she was ready to go. My task was complete, keeping her in her own home @ her upstairs desk with the lovely view down the harbour.

She had had a “good run”, “a full life”, “no regrets”.
May we all be so lucky to find a way out when the time is nigh....

With the utmost respect,
Kinesiologist, ol'buddy & friend,
Bruce Grey
SaltSpring Exercise Therapy 

Later rather than sooner, I was introduced to Margaret by her sister-in-law, Marion Fulton, of Birtle, Manitoba. when I retired to Salt Spring Island in 2000 (post-World President)  Marion having given years of service as Canadian Area President of Associated Countrywomen of the World.  Margaret and I "clicked" immediately - her incisive intellect, her sharp wit and acute sense of humour led to regular get-togethers over unorthodox bridge, convivial meals and all-embracing discussions -  we became firm friends and was made to feel by both Margaret  and Marion, almost part of the Fulton extended family..  Though I shall  surely miss Margaret, we can rejoice in knowing that she led a full and rewarding life bringing  hope and encouragement to the large number of young women she  inspired  throughout her formidable academic life  and much fun and laughter to everyone with whom she engaged.

Aye, Lyndsay (Hacket Pain Mundy) Salt Spring Island, BC

After a day of interviewing Dr.Fulton for a case study I was writing about her and dinner out at a lovely restaurant, Margaret left me with a picture book to peruse back at my hotel. It is entitled Memories of Mount St Vincent University, 1978 to 1986, the years of Margaret's presidency.They were good years, the capstone of Margaret's career. The pictures tell the story of what it takes to be a president. First, the installation as president, then there are funds to be raised, and documents to be signed, many meetings with students, the faculty and administration, convocations, alumnae, athletic events. There is even a picture of Margaret planting a tree, and another in a chef's hat serving dinner. What is remarkable about this photo album are the candid shots and smiling faces.  Nearly every photo of Margaret displays a wide grin, if not outright laughter. A great joy in living is evident in the pages of this book.There are many important people meeting with Margaret: Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Flora Macdonald, Cabinet ministers, Governor General Jeanne Sauve.The pictures portray a life of a powerful woman, always in demand, who revelled in presiding over an institution of higher learning. (Visit to Salt Spring, April 2004)

Margaret was very much a systems thinker. This famous poem captures the essence of Margaret Fulton’s belief that our entire society is a system that is interconnected:

This we know.

All things are connected

like the blood

which unites one family….

Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.

Man did not weave the web of life;

he is merely a strand in it.

Whatever he does to the web,

he does to himself.

Ted Perry, inspired by Chief Seattle  (as cited in Capra, The Web of Life, 1996)

A wonderful song by the gifted guitarist/singer/songwriter Eric Bibb who has a spiritual connection to The Haven on Gabriola Island, his famous father Leon Bibb lives in Vancouver, and he is the godson of Paul Robeson. I had the pleasure of hearing him perform this live, and it was truly magical. This can be found on his CD 'Troubadour Live". Margaret would have loved this song, especially the lyrics. You can search the song on YouTube if you want to hear the music.

 'Connected' by Eric Bibb:

I got my own roots to water, got my own family tree,
Got my own set of heroes, that mean something to me.
I got my own road to travel, my own story to tell--
In my own time.

Got my own way of talkin', got my own way to smile,
Got my own way of walkin' my own look and style.
Got my own way of prayin', my very own way to sing--
Still, I'm connected to you, and every one and every thing

I got my own list of questions, got my own truth to live,
Got my own hand-made gifts, that I'm longin to give
Got my own star to follow, my own rivers to cross
In my own time

Got my own way of talkin', got my own way to smile,
Got my own way of walkin', my own look and style.
Got my own way of prayin', my very own way to sing

Still, I'm connected, to you, and every one and every thing

Margaret Fulton was my mentor and the major role model of my academic career for a quarter century. What an amazing person she was, and what an impact she had on all who knew her. I was fortunate to have developed a deep friendship with her and an understanding of her as a whole, multi-faceted human being.  I wrote my doctoral dissertation about her, which included a case study about her time at MSVU called “Leading Transformational Organizational Change in Higher Education” which I plan to publish later this year.  As I prepare a retrospective of her life to share with her family and friends, I will also send materials to the UBC archives and MSVU Library so that students may access them, as well as the museum in Birtle, Manitoba.

In the attached photo, we are celebrating her 85th birthday at Piccolo House on Salt Spring Island... one of many great times we had over the years.

Here is a link from the C4 Conference: Confidence, Competence, and Community Cooperation: http://youtu.be/PTOd8X1z9fo

One of my great childhood memories was playing "British Bulldog" at family gatherings with Auntie Peggy.  No matter how busy, no matter what else might be going on, Auntie Peggy was always game to go out in the backyard with the kids for a raucous game of British bulldog.