Mary A. Johnston

1930 - 2017  (87 years)

• Name	Mary A. Johnston
  Born	1930	Edmonton, , Alberta, Canada
  Gender	Female
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-74071
  Died	7 Jul 2017
  Person ID	I74071	Generations
  Last Modified	19 Dec 2024

  
  

• Notes

  JOHNSTON, Mary A., B.A., M.Ed. Daughter of the late Marion Halley and Joseph Johnston. Sister of the late Rev. John Johnston (Heather) of Hamilton. Aunt of Andrew (Béatrice) of Kingston, Ian (Kelly) of Halifax, and Mary (Ian) of Ottawa. Great-aunt of Gabrielle, Emmanuelle, and Michel Johnston, Samantha and Stephanie Johnston, and Micah, Mateas, and Malachi Winter. Teacher, vice-principal and principal in Waterloo schools '96 Bearinger's, MacGregor, Empire, Centennial, Brighton, Winston Churchill and Keatsway. Active in the Federation of Women Teachers' of Ontario, recipient of the provincial Diamond Jubilee Award (1978). Also active in the Ontario Teachers' Federation and later in the Ontario Elementary Teachers' Federation. Recipient of the first regional "professional" Woman of the Year award, the Queen's Silver, Golden and Diamond Anniversary Medals. Honoured on her retirement with the naming of the Mary Johnston Elementary School, Waterloo. Named a member of "A Legacy of Leaders" celebrating 150 years of leaders in the City of Waterloo in 2007. Inducted into the Waterloo County Hall of Fame in 2009. Committed to community activities such as eldership in St Andrew's Presbyterian Church and promotion of fair trade products, life member of the Women's Missionary Society, member of the Waterloo Historical Society, Probus Women's Club of Kitchener-Westmount, and the CFUW Kitchener-Waterloo. Mary died naturally and unexpectedly at her cottage with Andrew, Ian and Mary by her side on July 7, 2017. A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 54 Queen St. N., Kitchener on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 2: 00 p.m. with the Rev. Gregory Smith officiating. A reception will follow immediately at the church. In lieu of flowers, if desired, donations may be made to the Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) and may be arranged at the service or by contacting the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445. Obituary of Mary Johnston | Erb & Good Family Funeral Home. (2017). Erbgood.com. Retrieved 10 July 2017, from https://erbgood.com/tribute/details/13521/Mary-Johnston/obituary.html ____________________________ Mary Johnston is a well-known and respected educator in Waterloo Region, whose career spanned 37 years until her retirement in 1987. Johnston attended Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate, Waterloo College and the Stratford Teachers' College. She earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Western Ontario. Johnston's teaching career began in 1950 at Bearinger School, moving to MacGregor School two years later. In 1965 she became Vice-Principal of Empire School, and was the only woman public school Vice-Principal in the area. She was appointed Principal of Brighton School in 1968, becoming the first woman Principal of a public school in the City of Waterloo. Johnston's contributions to local education were recognized in 1987 when the Waterloo County Board of Education named a new school in west Waterloo after her. During her teaching career, Johnston was active on many local, regional, provincial and national committees concerned with education issues and policies. Johnston's honours include the Diamond Jubilee Award, a one-time recognition by the Federation of Women Teachers' Association of Ontario as the most distinguished woman elementary public school teacher in Ontario. She was also named Oktoberfest Woman of the Year (Professional Category) in 1975 and received Her Majesty's Silver Anniversary and Golden Jubilee Medals. After her retirement, Johnston contributed to the community by her work with The Waterloo Region Social Resources Council. She also continues to be an active member of the Waterloo Historical Society, the Canadian Federation of University Women (Kitchener-Waterloo), the Probus Women's Club of Kitchener-Westmount, and the Retired Teachers' Association of Waterloo Region. Johnston is a faithful member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Kitchener where she is an elder and actively participates in the Women's Missionary Society. In the wider church, she has been very involved in the National Presbyterian Museum and Oikocredit, which is the worldwide cooperative society that empowers disadvantaged and marginalized people through financial support Past and Present Inductees. (2017). Waterlooregionmuseum.ca. Retrieved 10 July 2017, from https://www.waterlooregionmuseum.ca/en/exhibits/past-and-present-inductees.aspx

  
  

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  Born - 1930 - Edmonton, , Alberta, Canada  = Link to Google Earth