Canada’s Arctic region has always fascinated Canadians. Mary Simon knows this well. Throughout her almost 5 decades of leadership on Canadian Arctic issues she has witnessed the emergence of the Arctic as one of Canada’s most promising economic regions. This unprecedented economic activity has opened up new challenges for communities in the North, not the least of which is how Inuit can fully participate in the opportunities emerging at their doorstep. The answer, in Mary Simon’s view, lies not solely in training, but with a focus on closing gaps in the education systems, to enable more young people to graduate. Hear from Mary about her uniquely Canadian journey with education and how she has arrived at an understanding of reconciliation through a 21st century vision of education in Canada’s Arctic.
Biography
Mary Simon, OC, QC, comes from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik and was born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik (Arctic Quebec).
She is the recent past president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Inuit Organization (2006-2012). She has just completed her term as Chairperson of the National Committee on Inuit Education with a mandate to implement a comprehensive national strategy, aimed at improving Inuit educational standards and achievements (2012-2014).
She has advanced critical social, economic and human rights issues for Canadian Inuit regionally, nationally and internationally. Over four decades she has held senior leadership positions including, President of Makivik Corporation (the Land Claims Organization for Inuit of Nunavik), President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs as well as to the Kingdom of Denmark. She is the Founding Chair of the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation.
Ms. Simon led Canada’s negotiations during the creation of the eight nation Arctic Council in the mid 1990’s. The Arctic Council includes the Indigenous Peoples of the Circumpolar Region as Permanent Participants.
She is an Officer of the Order of Canada, Recipient of the National Order of Quebec, the Gold Order of Greenland, The National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Gold Order of the Canadian Geographic Society, The Symons Medal, the Governor General’s Northern Award. She has been inducted into the International Women’s Hall of Fame. She is a Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America and of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.
Mary Simon has also received many other distinctions including nine honorary doctorates of Laws from Canadian Universities (McGill, Guelf, Trent, University of Alberta, Memorial, Carleton, Queens, Loyalist College, and Mount Saint Vincent.)
She also served as Chancellor of Trent University.
In 2013 Ms. Simon received recognition as a nation builder from the Famous Five. She was recently honoured, by the Public Policy Forum for her contributions to public life, public policy and governance in Canada.
She is also an Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
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