Marie E. Ryan was born, raised and educated in St. John’s. In 1981, she graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Education and subsequently taught in elementary and junior high school in St. John’s and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. While teaching, Ms. Ryan was an active volunteer in extracurricular sports, becoming the first female co-coach of a boys’ soccer team in an elementary school in St. John’s.

In 1987, Ms. Ryan was diagnosed with a rare viral illness that left her with paralysis and unable to walk for 10 years. Her road to recovery was physically, mentally and financially difficult but she returned to the workforce in 1992.

In 1993, she co-produced The Realities of Disability video, which was the national winner of the 1993 Association for Media Technology in Education award of merit.

Also in 1993, Ms. Ryan was elected to St. John’s City Council as a councillor-at-large. In 1997 she was elected deputy mayor for the city; a post she held until her retirement from politics in 2001.

While on city council, Ms. Ryan spearheaded a number of initiatives focused on both social and economic development. She chaired or served on several Mayor’s Advisory Committees including the Committee on Housing; and the Committee on Crime Prevention. Ms. Ryan also co-chaired a multi-stakeholder committee on social and economic development in downtown St. John’s and is currently a commissioner for the City of St. John’s Public Hearings.

For 12 years, Ms. Ryan chaired the St. John’s Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness where she led the work to build the community capacity to provide supportive housing and services and raise awareness of the issue of homelessness and its solutions in the city.

As a volunteer, Ms. Ryan’s work has resulted in improved awareness, action and public policy development regarding the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. She has served on numerous boards and committees that are focused on promoting human rights, inclusion and the eradication of poverty. These include Eastern Health, the Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Force Development Board, and the Eastern Regional Economic Development Board.

Ms. Ryan chaired the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities for eight years and co-chaired an Industrial Adjustment Service committee to develop a supportive environment for persons with disabilities seeking employment. She also served as chairperson of the Longside Club which promotes inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities in all activities and within the community.

Under her leadership, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities developed a national action plan for access and inclusion for persons with disabilities which was endorsed by more than 100 national and provincial organizations. Today, Ms. Ryan is a member of a national committee guiding a seven-year trans-disciplinary initiative on the future of work disability policy in Canada.

Ms. Ryan is a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Hall of Fame. She currently works as a partner with Gilroy Goss Inc.