Audrey Marguerite Kirkland Martyn was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on April 21, 1948, the first child of William and Claire Kirkland. She went to McKernan, Belgravia, and Strathcona Composite High Schools before attending the University of Alberta, where she earned her degree in Education in 1973. The same year, she started her career with Edmonton Public Schools. Audrey Martyn also ran her own business, Button Specialists, an advertising company, through the 1970s and 1980s.

She was a member of the Old Strathcona Foundation Board, the End of Steel Park Committee, Symphony Women’s Committee (president between 1982-1984), and Edmonton Symphony (1982-1984). She was also a founder of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Associates.

John Martyn was born on February 21, 1934 in Lviv, Ukraine, the third child of Michael and Ksenia Martyn. He had one brother, Arthur, and two sisters, Olga and Irene. His family left for Canada on September 3, 1939 on the British liner S.S. Athenia, which was sank by the Germans in the first sea attack of the Second World War. The family survived and completed their trip on the Cameronia. In 1942 they moved to Edmonton. John studied sheet metal, worked for the provincial Department of Highways, and then worked 33 years for Edmonton Telephones where he retired in 1995.

John Martyn was passionate about Ukrainian folk music, playing the double bass for the Ukrainian Centre Orchestra and for the Edmonton Youth Orchestra. He also played with Joe Hrycyk and the Starlites, and the Pete Kassian’s Orchestra. He was also involved with the Sourdough Raft Race Association, the Annual Civic Truck Roadeo, the Ukrainian Village, the Commonwealth Games, and Universiade Games. John was a member of Edmonton Northlands shareholder Association and an active volunteer in many Northlands activities.