Background
Chambers was born in Jamaica, and emigrated to Canada in 1976. She is a graduate of The Immaculate Conception High School. She was a banker prior to entering political life. She joined Scotiabank in 1976, and was involved in the expansion of computer and electronic services within the organisation. She was also involved in a number of taskforces concerning the role of women in the workplace. In 1988, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto with a major in Commerce.
Chambers was named a Senior Vice-President of the bank in 1998, retiring from the position in December 2002. She is also a former director of Grace, Kennedy (Ontario) Ltd. and Grace Foods International Ltd., prominent food distribution companies belonging to a parent organization in Jamaica.
Chambers was a member of the Rouge Valley Health System, serving as Vice-Chair for a time. She was a member of the Board of Governors at the University of Toronto from 1993 to 2001, and Vice-Chair of the Governing Council from 1998 to 2001. She helped to author a University policy that no student would be prevented from studying at Toronto for inadequate financial resources.
Chambers was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Way of Greater Toronto from 1994 to 2001, and was President of the Canadian Club of Toronto from 1998 to 1999. In 2003, she was awarded the Jamaican Prime Ministers Medal of Appreciation for Service to Jamaica by Jamaican Prime Minister Percival James Patterson, in recognition of her work within Toronto's Jamaican community.
Read more about this topic: Mary Anne Chambers
Famous quotes containing the word background:
“... every experience in life enriches one’s background and should teach valuable lessons.”
—Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)
“In the true sense one’s native land, with its background of tradition, early impressions, reminiscences and other things dear to one, is not enough to make sensitive human beings feel at home.”
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940)
“They were more than hostile. In the first place, I was a south Georgian and I was looked upon as a fiscal conservative, and the Atlanta newspapers quite erroneously, because they didn’t know anything about me or my background here in Plains, decided that I was also a racial conservative.”
—Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)