- Born
- November 5, 1954 — Orillia, Ontario
- Family
- Three daughters, Emilie, Lauren and Lindelwa, and 7 grandchildren
- Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Languages and Literature from the University of Guelph, a Master of Arts in Rural Planning and Development from the University of Guelph, and a diploma in French Language from the Université de Besançon; honorary Doctorate of Business Management from the Meru University of Science and Technology in Kenya
- Career
- Rural Industrial Officer in Botswana; Rural Development Advisor in Indonesia; Executive Director for Calmeadow; Vice-President and the Director of the Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University; Executive Director of the Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership
- Political Experience
- Appointed to the Senate on December 4, 2017
- Notable
- Underwent treatment for stage-three breast cancer in 2016
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before her appointment to the Senate, Mary Coyle had a long career focused on international development and university administration. She was the founding executive director of the Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. For many years, she also served as a vice president of the university and the director of its Coady International Institute, which focuses on community-based development. Her earlier work included roles with Calmeadow, a Canadian non-governmental organization that supported microfinance initiatives, which provide small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. According to her Senate ethics disclosure summary, she has reported assets including publicly traded securities and a rental property.
Key Relationships & Connections
Mary Coyle was appointed to the Senate in 2017 on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as part of his independent advisory board process. Her role as the founding executive director of the Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership at St. Francis Xavier University connects her professionally with Frank McKenna, a former Premier of New Brunswick and Canadian Ambassador to the United States. She also has long-standing ties to the leadership and community of St. Francis Xavier University and its Coady International Institute, where she worked for two decades.