Jean Margaret (Peggy) Wemyss was born in Neepewa, Manitoba on July 18, 1926 to Robert Harrison Wemyss, a lawyer, and Verna Jean, nee Simpson. Margaret’s mother died when she was only four and her father later married her sister, Margaret Cambell Simpson, a teacher and later a librarian. She was throughout the years one of Margaret’s "greatest encouragers." After her father’s death, when she was nine and her brother still a baby, the family went to live with Grandfather Simpson in his big brick house on first avenue. After graduating from high school in 1944, Margaret attended United College (now the University of Winnipeg), and was an assistant editor of the college