Barbara Peyton is a first generation Canadian
who grew up on a farm northeast of Dickson, Alberta which was purchased from the CPR and homesteaded by her grandparents,
Olive and Bliss “Kirk” Kirkpatrick.
Her mother, Laurel Kirkpatrick, attended high school at the Dickson Dorm, and with her
husband, Richard Rutschke, took over the family farm on the Benalto Road in 1951.
Her first
eighteen years were spent in the Craig Community, with the Danish community in Dickson to the south, along with the Icelandic
community in Markerville to the east. She attended Grades 1-12 at Spruce View School, along with courses
at Red Deer College and the University of Calgary.
She has lived in Red Deer, Calgary and Vancouver before returning to Alberta in 2000.
Her past career in telecommunications as a trainer, supervisor, course developer, instructor, distributor sales manager
and consultant allowed for business travel throughout Canada, the USA, the Caribbean and Central America. Her
travels have also taken her to visit Australia, Mexico, Thailand, Hong Kong and Europe.
She has previous experience with volunteer coordination
as Past Chair of Pastoral Care at Hillhurst United Church in Calgary along with volunteer work with their
Newcomer’s hospitality team and ‘Inn from the Cold’ hosted at Hillhurst.
Her interests and activities include nature photography,
language studies, genealogy, travel, dog-walking, hiking, reading, crafts and gardening.
She is passionate about conserving our history while honouring
and learning from our connection to the past.
Barbara warmly welcomes the opportunity to meet and work with the DCNMS members, the
community and all visitors to the museum site.
