In a newly published memoir, “From the Heart’’, Chambers shares some of her life experiences – as a wife, mother and grandmother – as well as working across the private, public and non-profit sectors.

By Lincoln DePradine

Mary Anne Chambers has been one of Ontario’s most successful female politicians, someone who was not afraid to speak her mind to her colleagues, including her party and government leader.

Chambers retired as a senior vice-president with Scotiabank in December 2002; and, she stepped down from politics in 2007, after serving one term as a Liberal Party government minister.

In a newly published memoir, “From the Heart’’, Chambers shares some of her life experiences – as a wife, mother and grandmother – as well as working across the private, public and non-profit sectors.

In a candid discussion on the book, with journalist Ron Fanfair and hosted at Blackhurst Cultural Centre on Bathurst Street last Thursday, Chambers also fielded questions about confronting challenges, Black representation in elected politics in Canada, and about her philosophy on life.

Her encouragement was that everyone should search for ways in which they could “make life better for others’’.

“From the Heart’’, which is in paperback at $25.99 each, was released in August by Dundurn Press, whose publisher and president is African-Canadian Scott Fraser.

“My strategic goal here is to make sure that every Dundurn author has the best experience possible, and that we are doing everything we can to support the author’s writing career,’’ Fraser said on assuming the publisher and president roles in 2019.

Chambers, together with her husband Chris and their two young sons, left Jamaica for Canada in 1976. She says the departure from the Caribbean was on the insistence of “Vera’’, an older family friend, who herself had moved to Canada

“She had left my family and moved to Canada when Chris and I got married,’’ said Chambers. “I had been accustomed to Vera running my life when I was growing up. She was hard working, industrious, a lot of fun, and felt very much like a member of our family. Most of all, she was wise and she cared a lot about me, so it was impossible to not take her seriously.’’

The family was “content’’ in Jamaica but still relocated to Canada, where they faced many of the difficulties of newly arrived immigrants, including finding suitable employment.

However, rather than being deterred, Chamber inspired herself to achieve success.

Among others things, she graduated from the University of Toronto, majoring in commerce and later serving on the university’s board of governors and as vice-chair of the governing council.

Chambers, who admits to enjoying community service, said she had planned on spending more time volunteering in the non-profit sector, when she was invited to be a Scarborough election candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party.

She won the seat in 2003 and was appointed minister of training, colleges and universities. She also served as minister of children and youth services.

Chambers’ “From the Heart’’ is described as a “refreshing memoir that challenges readers to make the most of life’s opportunities’’.

It’s not only “uplifting’’ but also “honest’’, Chambers said at last week’s book launch at Blackhurst Cultural Centre, where she signed autographed copies of the book for buyers.

“I really appreciate all of these kinds of opportunities to get the word out,’’ Chambers told The Caribbean Camera at the event.

Chambers, 72, said that the “writing came easy’’, but the process leading to final publication was much longer.

She expects book purchases to increase as Christmas approaches.

“People have told me they’re using them as gifts. There are people who have bought more than one copy,’’ she disclosed.

LJI