Mary Collins

Mary Collins is Director of the Secretariat of the BC Healthy Living Alliance, a group of organizations committed to collaborating on the prevention of chronic disease.

Prior to joining the Alliance in 2008, Ms. Collins served for five years in Russia working with the World Health Organization and on a health care reform project in the Chuvash Republic.

From 1984 - 1993, Ms. Collins served as a Member of Parliament representing the B.C. constituency of Capilano – Howe Sound. From 1989 - 1993, she was a Cabinet Minister, becoming the first woman in Parliament to hold the position of Associate Minister of National Defence.

As Minister responsible for the Status of Women from 1990 to 1993, Ms. Collins first declared October as Women`s History Month. Ms. Collins also served as Western Economic Diversification Minister, Minister of State (Environment) and Minister of National Health and Welfare.

An active participant in many community activities throughout her career at the local, national and international levels, Ms. Collins has been a strong advocate of the advancement of women in political life. She was the founding honorary co-chair of the Women`s Campaign School in Vancouver which offers women the tools they need to effectively engage in the political process. She has also worked on projects to promote women`s political development in Vietnam and Ukraine. In addition, Ms. Collins has been active as a consultant in health management.

Ms. Collins graduated from Queen’s University in Political Science. She holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Royal Roads Military College and is a member of the Fellows Council at Royal Roads University.

Ms. Collins was born in Vancouver and has three adult children.