Mary Tidlund
My name is Mary A. Tidlund I was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and was adopted at the age of eight by a loving Calgary family. Along with three other adopted children, I shared my childhood with at least 45 foster children that my parents nurtured and loved. Later in my life I reunited with my birth families.
After completing a science degree in geography, I began a 15-year career in the oil industry. I co-founded and became President and CEO of a publicly-traded oil exploration and service company in Arcola, Saskatchewan. While in Arcola, my businesses grew to include drilling and trucking companies, a clothing store, an art gallery, a restaurant, and a saloon.
An industry downturn led me away from the oil business to international travel and my roots in charitable service. I founded the Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation, which financially supported and participated in over 90 programs at home and overseas. Key initiatives included delivering volunteer medical clinics and workshops; constructing schools, medical facilities, and playgrounds; providing educational sponsorships; and implementing water filtration and microfinance projects. At the heart, we focused on empowering women and children to be able to provide for themselves and create self-sustaining programs that have broad community impact.
I hold board, director, trustee and membership positions with a number of organizations dedicated to the financial empowerment of women, including the Grace Institute Foundation, Grace Institute New York, a member of Women Moving Millions, The51 and SHEInnovates. I am a former director of Women Moving Millions and Tostan. I also currently hold public board, director and committee positions with Valhi Inc. and CompX International Inc. and I am an Advisor with the O’Brien Institute for Public Health.
Over the years, my work has been recognized with an In Award, Harry Jerome President’s Award, the Black Achievement Awards for Humanitarianism and Lifetime Achievement, and the Woman of Vision Award with Global TV. I was a finalist for a Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award and a nominee for the Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur Award.
It is a privilege to work with individuals and organizations that want to make the world a better place. I am grateful to be able to share my skills and experiences with you. When I’m not working, you can find me skiing, hiking or birding in the Canadian Rockies, or trying to find the best bakery or restaurant in Calgary (or wherever I happen to be) has to offer!”
