Dr. Mary Anne Chambers has been invested into the Order of Ontario by Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell.
Chambers is a former provincial cabinet minister and MPP for Scarborough East.
She has served the people of Ontario with profound dedication, the province said, noting she personally funds scholarships and sponsors an academic mentorship program at U of T.
Her community service includes president of the Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education (PACE).
“It’s imperative that we ensure the little kids have a good education that will help equip them to have choices so they can contribute to their communities and their country,” Chambers said.
After migrating from Jamaica with her family, she succeeded in the worlds of business and politics, including as a senior vice-president with Scotiabank.
She is a former president of the Canadian Club and past chair of the United Way of Greater Toronto.
“Mary Anne Chambers has served her community, city and province with poise, charisma and passion for more than 30 years,” said Prof. Franco Vaccarino, principal of UTSC.
“Her dedication and commitment to public service and philanthropy are borne out of her unshakeable belief that the world should be a better place because I have served.”
Chambers, an alumna of U of T Scarborough, received an honorary degree during a convocation ceremony and commented that “ten years ago when I had the privilege of hosting Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the University of Toronto conferred upon him the honorary degree of doctor of laws, the thought never entered my mind that I could also be the recipient of such an honour.”
At the time, she advised the graduating students to be community builders.