Margaret Norrie McCain ( Norrie; born October 1, 1934) is a Canadian philanthropist who was the first woman to serve as the lieutenant governor of New Brunswick.

She is known for her work in the promotion of early childhood education."The meaningful munificence of Margaret McCain" . August 23, 2012 | By Alec Bruce As a member of the wealthy McCain family, she has donated millions of dollars to charitable causes."Margaret McCain donates $10 million to CAMH for youth mental health services". The Guardian, April 25, 2012Iris Nowell. Women who Give Away Millions: Portraits of Canadian Philanthropists. Dundurn; October 22, 1996. . p. 161–.

Early life and education McCain was born Margaret Norrie"Wallace McCain, food-business giant, dies at 81". The Globe and Mail, Gordon Pitts, May 14, 2011 in Amos, Quebec. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Allison University and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Toronto.'Margaret McCain sees education as “the great equalizer”'. The Aquinian, by Alexandre Silberman, October 2, 2017

Career McCain is the founding patron of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation for the elimination of family violence. From 1994 to 1997 she was the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.Philip Lee. Frank: The Life and Politics of Frank McKenna. Goose Lane Editions; 2001. .

Following her term of office, McCain became co-chair with James Fraser Mustard of The Early Years Study into early childhood learning.Linda A. White. Constructing Policy Change: Early Childhood Education and Care in Liberal Welfare States. University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division; 18 September 2017. . p. 142–.Des Griffin. Education Reform: The Unwinding of Intelligence and Creativity. Springer Science & Business Media; 19 December 2013. . p. 81–.John Lorinc. New City: How The Crisis Of Canadas Cities Is Reshaping Our Nation. Penguin Canada; 6 December 2016. . p. 188–. The first report, Early years study : reversing the real brain drain, was commissioned by the Government of Ontario. Subsequent reports were published by other organizations. McCain continued to advocate for improvements in early childhood education."Margaret McCain pushes for expanding education to include 4 year olds". CBC News, June 22, 2016

In 2008, McCain and her husband Wallace opened the McCain Student Center at Mount Allison University.David Mutimer. Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs 2005. University of Toronto Press; December 2011. . p. 240–. McCain served as the Chancellor of the university.Audrey Andrews. Be Good, Sweet Maid: The Trials of Dorothy Joudrie. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press; 25 August 2011. . p. 17–.

Family She was married to the late billionaire entrepreneur Wallace McCain, who co-founded McCain Foods. She has four children, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren."‘Music is healing’: Eleanor McCain’s Canadian Songbook". Toronto Star, Shinan Govani, July 25, 2015 Her mother, Margaret Norrie, was the first woman appointed to the Senate of Canada from Nova Scotia.

Honours In 1994, she was invested as a Dame of Grace in the Most Venerable Order of Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1998, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and promoted to Companion in 2013."Artists, scientists, educators among new Order of Canada appointments". Globe and Mail, March 25, 2017, Patrick Doyle In 2003, she was made an Honorary Senior Fellow of Renison University College. In 2004, she became a member of the Order of New Brunswick. In 2005, she received the YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Award.Tom Bateman, "YWCA salutes Women of Distinction at women's centre opening". Times & Transcript, May 29, 2017 In 2006, she received the Philanthropist of the Year award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals for donating time and money to Canada's National Ballet School, The Learning Partnership and Canadian Women's Foundation."McCain family donates $8m for new Dal science facility"". Chronicle-Herald, Nov 8, 2011 In 2007, St. Thomas University named its newest academic building in her honour. Margaret Norrie McCain Hall, housing a theatre, study lounge, administration offices and classrooms, opened in January 2007. In 2015, Mount Saint Vincent University opened the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research in her honour. The first building on a Canadian university campus dedicated to the accomplishments of women, the McCain Centre celebrates women’s contributions to business, public policy, family life, academia, the arts, sciences and community.

References

External links Early years study 1: reversing the real brain drain Early years study 2 Early Years Study 3