About Mary

Mary Tabak was born in Toronto and raised on a hobby farm in Milton, Ontario. Her parents immigrated to Canada in the 1960’s and she is the eldest of 5 children. Highlights from her childhood include horseback riding, playing soccer and a 1971 Mustang convertible.

She attended Ryerson University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Mary worked at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital where her passion for helping families during times of transition and crisis was born. She then worked at the Halton Region Health Department for over 20 years as a Public Health Nurse in many different programs and community centres. Her expertise was in youth engagement, community development, comprehensive school health, substance abuse prevention, parenting and Developmental Assets.

During this time, she developed a love for public speaking. She honed her skill as she hosted Toronto’s CFRB Radio Show – The Parent Coach. She also presented across North America on building successful schools where students are not only educated, but also grow up healthy, safe and resilient.

Halton’s Our Kids Network was Mary’s next career highlight. She was the Project Manager for Developmental Assets where she trained, consulted with and facilitated learning opportunities for professionals who work with children and youth. Mary has coached people in public speaking, parenting and how to make small changes that have a big impact for kids.

When away from work, Mary makes family a priority. She enjoys quiet nights at home with her husband, Joe and children, Tomas, Nicole and Anthony. They enjoy board games, table tennis, and visiting her large extended family. Mary also spends her time learning about various forms of healing, teaching her dog new yoga tricks and indulging in the latest Netflix show.