Portrait of Betty Green by Shirley Van Dusen

Many of our readers will have met and worked with Betty Green when she served as the impeccably elegant gatekeeper for Joe Clark, then Brian Mulroney, in their Centre Block opposition and prime ministerial offices on Parliament Hill. Betty died last month, having lived a very full century. From surviving the London Blitz to raising three boys to that Judi Dench delivery that could stop a wayward cabinet minister in his tracks at 20 paces, Betty was like a transplanted, indomitable Barbara Cartland heroine.

We asked her son Martin, currently serving as Assistant Secretary to Cabinet in the Privy Council Office, if we could re-post his exquisite appreciation of his Mum that ran as an Ottawa Citizen obituary, with some accompanying images, as a Policy tribute to a fine public servant and force of nature.

Betty Birch grew up in Camden Town, London — a tough place during tough years. Her Mother was killed by a trolley when she was two. Betty had four brothers, as well as a stepbrother and a half-brother. They kept a loving, strict eye on their pretty, spirited younger sister. She was an exceptional student but could not afford to stay in school.

With brother John (R) and a friend, early in WWII

She strode through the “Blitz” with her head up. She often took a 5-year-old neighbour, Alan, to the bomb shelters and comforted him. He was one of many devoted, lifelong friends.

One of her first dates was watching the blackouts from Hampstead Heath. She never refused a dance with a pilot because, “They were not long for this world”.

Toronto, 1947

In 1947, she bravely voyaged alone to Toronto, Canada, sponsored by the Robert Simpson Company. She worked at their flagship store at Yonge and Queen as a clothing buyer, sales clerk, and model — a stunning young woman with sapphire blue eyes and a love of dressing well. It was here that she met a shy, handsome RAF Lancaster pilot, Colin Green, also from London. Theirs was a deep, adoring love.

A matriarch emerged when the now RCAF officer and Betty had three boys — Ian, Leigh and Martin — theirs was sometimes tough but always unconditional support and love. Betty was a traditional officer’s wife but was always busy as a volunteer nurse at the Sunnybrook Veteran’s Hospital, president of various clubs, working at upmarket clothing stores, and keeping a wonderful home. Betty ran a tight ship that had many ports due to military postings. It was not unusual for someone she had met on the bus, someone interesting — a recent immigrant perhaps — to be at her dinner table the same evening. She loved to sing, dance, and laugh. She was grateful for good times.

Betty and Colin at the 1964 NATO Gala, Versailles

In 1979, tragedy struck when Colin died in the Florida ocean. Betty would move back to London for a couple of years working at Ontario and Canada House as an elegant social receptionist. She quickly built a new life with new and old friends including hanging out with Mordecai Richler. Betty’s love for Colin never waned but she knew she had to reinvent herself to carry on.

In 1981, Betty returned to Ottawa and a new life began when she worked devotedly as “executive receptionist” for the Right Honourable Joe Clark and then for Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. For her, from her Centre Block Parliament Hill perch, her job entailed being at the frontline of public service and making sure staff, ministers, the media, commissioners, RCMP security, and the public were in lockstep. Lord help those who wittingly or unwittingly failed to follow the plan. Many still remember her from this time and she became a “Hill” cult figure. Betty and the Green family owe a formidable debt of gratitude to Joe Clark and Maureen McTeer and to Brian and Mila Mulroney.

Betty retired in the early ’90s. She was ubiquitous in the downtown core and knew shopkeepers, bus drivers, mayors, politicians, and wealthy entrepreneurs alike. She never had the social filters that many have. Family, friends, and strangers could be shot down with a piercing gaze or an acerbic quip. She did not countenance defeatism or a lack of politesse.

Betty’s sons, Ian, Leigh and Martin Green

In 2001, her middle son Leigh, a very talented CNN journalist, succumbed to cancer in Atlanta, Georgia. Leigh was married to Linda and they had a son ‘Ian Martin’. Betty, deeply wounded, marched through another loss. In her later years, her happiest moments were travelling and getting together with family and friends. If there was laughter, hers could be heard.

Betty lived independently until a week before her 100th Birthday last October. Over the last several months, there were plenty of ‘Betty moments’ as she fiercely fought the effects of a stroke. Betty is survived by Ian and Joy, Martin and Sheila, her grandchildren, Colin and Sam, Megan and Jason, Veronica and Pearce, Savannah and Conor, and Ian Martin and her great-grandchildren, Quinn, Jack and Wyatt.

Betty Green was one in a million. She believed we all are.

In lieu of flowers, Betty wanted any donations to be made to the Salvation Army Grace Hospital. The Green family will hold a celebration for Betty in September.