Marilyn Trenholme Counsell has been awarded one of the Canadian Medical Association's most prestigious awards.
At a special ceremony held in Saskatoon, Sask., during the association's 142 annual meeting, the retired doctor was presented with the Sir Charles Tupper Award for Political Action. The award was created to recognize physicians who demonstrate exemplary leadership, commitment and dedication to the cause of advancing the policies, views and goals of the CMA at the federal level.
A native of Baie Verte, Trenholme Counsell graduated as valedictorian from Regional Memorial School in Port Elgin in 1949 and went on to earn a B.Sc in Home Economics at Mount Allison University and received a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto. She worked as a nutritionist and later a family physician in Sackville and Port Elgin for a number of years before being elected as the MLA for Tantramar, a seat she held from 1987-1997.
Trenholme Counsell was appointed to the provincial cabinet and was Minister of State for the Family and Minister of State for Family and Community Services in the government of then-Premier Frank McKenna.
She was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick in 1997 and served in that capacity until for six years, during that time promoting early childhood initiatives and championing the cause of literacy. She was appointed to the Canadian Senate upon the recommendation of Prime Jean ChrÉtien in 2003 and served in that capacity until her retirement in October, 2008. At that time she was appointed to the board of the Council on Early Childhood Development and accepted a teaching position (political leadership in Canada) at Mount Allison University.
Trenholme Counsell was the first woman physician in Canada to be a member of a provincial legislature and cabinet; the first to serve as Lieutenant-Governor and the first female doctor to step in a Senate position. And in all of these roles she showed exceptional leadership in her advocacy of public policy that would help to improve the lives of Canadian families.
"The exceptional leadership of Dr. Trenholme Counsell, her hard work and her unwavering commitment to advocate at both the federal and provincial level in pushing for critical improvements in the health care system are a model for others to emulate," says CMA president, Dr. Robert Ouellet.
Trenholme Counsell admits that throughout her life she's always wanted to serve her fellow citizens, without expecting tributes or awards.
"In my medical practice and in public life, opportunities have been limitless to make a difference. I believe that Sir Charles Tupper, who practiced medicine in Amherst, Nova Scotia, a few kilometers from my home in Sackville, would have shared this belief. His example lives on."
Marilyn Trenholme Counsell receives Canadian Medical Association Award
Marilyn Trenholme Counsell receives Canadian Medical Association Award
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Published on
August 26, 2009
- Published on March 5, 2010
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Staff ~ The Sackville Tribune Post
Marilyn Trenholme Counsell has been awarded one of the Canadian Medical Association's most prestigious awards.
At a special ceremony held in Saskatoon, Sask., during the association's 142 annual meeting, the retired doctor was presented with the Sir Charles Tupper Award for Political Action. The award was created to recognize physicians who demonstrate exemplary leadership, commitment and dedication to the cause of advancing the policies, views and goals of the CMA at the federal level.
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