Barbara Teaching a Young Girl to Weave, circa 1970s

Barbara never had children of her own but she loved them. When the centre opened children became a central part of her life. She taught them how to explore the natural world and how to see and think creatively. 

During one school field trip, Barbara and Heather MacEwan Foran were exploring the property with a class of grade two students. Pointing to a pile of bones in the field, Barbara asked the class what they were. Shyly a little boy put up his hand, “Is it Mr. Leighton?” Barbara, who had a wonderful sense of humour, responded to this query with a big, raucous laugh.

Happy Children at Summer Camp, circa 1980s. Credit: Leighton Art Centre Museum & Archives.