Celebrating 100 years of courage, compassion and commitment
"This is all for you," said Barney's daughter Pamela as she leaned over and smiled back at her mother, holding her hand tightly.
The common room at the Norwood Nursing Home was strung with streamers and balloons last week. Barney's family, and residents of the home on Tyndall Avenue in Parkdale, gathered there to celebrate a major milestone in Barney's life - her 100th birthday.
"To live 100 years is a landmark we all aspire to, but most of us never get there," said Parkdale-High Park MP Peggy Nash. "Think of all the terrible things you have lived through like world wars and the (Great) Depression, but also all of the positive things, the wonderful things you have seen like artistic things and movements for social change."
Nash presented Barney with a parliamentary certificate commemorating 100 years and congratulated her for having conducted her life with courage, commitment and compassion.
Barney, known affectionately as Peggy, was born on May 16, 1908, in Berkshire, England. She's lived through two world wars, two marriages and the loss of one of her children, Gordon, who was killed when his British Navel ship was bombed.
Barney was the daughter of a Royal Guard who protected Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. During the Second World War she opened her heart and her home to British children who were displaced by the war and volunteered as a cantina worker.
Because of her contribution during the Second World War, National Defense staff officer Major Alex Moseanu was on hand to salute Barney in recognition and in thanks for her efforts.
In 1948, Barney and her husband, Henry Barney, made the difficult decision to leave England. The couple and their two remaining children, Brian and Pamela, settled in Hamilton.
Barney has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and resides in Norwood Nursing Home, where her daughter Pamela is also a resident.
