For half a century, Margaret worked tirelessly to make the world a better place
The world lost a wonderful human being and one of its most tireless and inspiring human rights activists on January 29, 2025, when Margaret John passed away peacefully in Hamilton, Ontario.
Margaret was a passionate supporter of Amnesty International who dedicated much of her life to human rights and justice. She was born Margaret Gregson in 1936 in Manchester, England. While at university in Bangor, Wales, Margaret met her husband, Brian, and in 1968 they moved to Hamilton, where they made their home and raised a family.
Margaret and Brian joined their local Amnesty community group after they became outraged by the human rights violations taking place during General Pinochet’s military coup in Chile in 1973. These were the founding years of Amnesty International Canada, and it was volunteer activists like Margaret and Brian who, through their hard work and commitment, helped build Amnesty Canada into the leading human rights organization that it is today.
Within a few years of joining Amnesty, Margaret took on a senior volunteer role, becoming a country coordinator specializing in human rights campaigning for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. Being a country coordinator is one of the most demanding and impactful volunteer activism positions within Amnesty. It was a role that Margaret dedicated herself to for more than four decades.
Anyone who met Margaret was left with a lasting impression of her boundless energy and positive outlook. She was unwavering in her pursuit of justice—Margaret would never lose hope and never give up on a cause. Chee Soon Juan, Singaporean opposition politician and former political prisoner, said of Margaret: “Words cannot do justice to her dedication and perseverance. She is indeed one in a million.”
For many years, Margaret was a leading voice in promoting legacy giving to Amnesty International. She encouraged other human rights supporters to consider leaving a legacy gift to Amnesty—as she had herself. “Leaving a gift in my will is one more way to help Amnesty’s work go on,” Margaret said. “I can think of no better way of ensuring justice and dignity for future generations.”
Words cannot do justice to Margaret’s dedication and perseverance
Chee Soon Juan, Singaporean politician and former political prisoner
Leaving a legacy gift to Amnesty International
If you are thinking about leaving a gift in your will, Amnesty International’s legacy gift planner Jessica Brodribb would be happy to talk to you to answer any questions you may have. You may use the coupon enclosed with this newsletter to let us know whether you have already left a gift in your will, or if you would like to receive a free information brochure on legacy giving.
You may contact Jessica at 613-744-7667, ext. 212 or jbrodribb@amnesty.ca
