Deborah Grey PC OC LLD
MP (Ret'd)
Deborah Grey was born on July 1st, 1952 in Vancouver BC. She graduated from the University of Alberta in Edmonton with a double BA - in Arts and Education. From 1979 to 1989 Deborah taught high school at Alberta's Frog Lake Indian Reserve and in Dewberry, Alberta. Her history-making political career took a turn when, in 1989, she won a by-election becoming the Reform Party's first Member of Parliament.
She served in that position for fifteen and a half years, watching the growth of Reform, which transitioned into the Canadian Alliance. She was instrumental in building bridges with the Progressive Conservative Party, which eventually amalgamated into the Conservative Party of Canada. She was Canada's first-ever female Leader of the Official Opposition, serving in that position from March to September, 2000. Deborah retired from elected office in June, 2004, after winning four straight elections.
Deb and her husband Lewis are happily semi-retired in Qualicum Beach, BC. They enjoy riding their matching motorcycles around Vancouver Island.
After leaving office, Deb has become a professional speaker with the National Speakers' Bureau. She continues to travel across Canada addressing groups on leadership, balancing work and play, and relationship building. She has been involved with many charity events: as Honourary Chairman for 'Ride For Sight', Ride For The Breath of Life (cystic fibrosis), Edmonton Dream Centre (a women's shelter), Ride For Dad (for prostate cancer), Santa's Anonymous Toy Run, Tim's Camp Day and Deb Grey Ride of Hope For Haiti.
In December 2007 Deborah was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for Public Service. She has also received the Queen Elizabeth II 50th and 60th Jubilee Medals. In addition to that, she has received the Alberta Centennial Medal and an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from Trinity Western University.
In 2011, Grey was a member of the International Republican Institute Electoral Observation Mission in Nigeria, also known as the IRI EOM.
In 2011 she was invited to participate in the Women's Democracy Network (WDN) in Lagos, Nigeria.
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Slide shows
Photos from International Republican Institute Electoral Observation Mission Abuja, Nigeria, 2011
Deb at the airport on her way to Nigeria
Photos from Women's Democracy Network (WDN), Nigeria, 2011
The delegation of the Women's Democracy Network
Photos from Ride For Dad and Tim's Camp Day
Ride for Dad (for prostate cancer)