Presentation of Barbara Martindale Memorial Laneway, storyboard and exhibit scheduled for September 12

On Thursday, September 12, Haldimand County will be celebrating one of its most active civic leaders, Barbara Martindale, with the naming of a laneway at Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre and presentation of an associated storyboard and exhibit, in her memory. The event begins at 5:00 pm, with a welcome and remarks beginning at 5:30 pm.

The Executive Director of the Caledonia & Regional Chamber of Commerce from its creation in 1996 to her passing in 2022, Martindale was a noted historian, author, advocate and community builder. Her work career began at the Caledonia Grand River Sachem newspaper, where she wrote the popular column, “For What It’s Worth”, for decades.

Martindale’s advocacy began in the early 1980s when she joined a volunteer committee to restore the recently-saved Caledonia Town Hall, now known as Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre. Locally, she was active with her church, the Caledonia BIA, Ruthven Park Management Committee, the Caledonia Community Foundation and the Active Lives Campaign, which spearheaded the construction of the Haldimand County Caledonia Centre (twin pad arena, library and hall).

Her contributions didn’t end with those she made locally. Martindale was active in the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, the provincial Progressive Conservative Party (including running as a local candidate in 1985), the Toronto Women’s Advertising Club and as President of the Hamilton Branch of the Media Club of Canada.

For her community work, Martindale received a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, as well as Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow recognition.