An acclaimed workshop and retreat leader, Mary Elizabeth has taught creative writing in such places as Rocky Mountain College, during Writer's workshops and conferences, in schools and at Calgary's FCJ Centre and in Chapters bookstores.
She is a poet on the Artist Roster of CAPES (Calgary Arts Partners in Education Society), and as such, works with teachers to integrate the Arts into the school curriculum. She was awarded two grants from the National ArtsSmarts program for 1999-2000, to work as a poet infusing the Arts into the studies of a fine Arts Elementary School and into the curriculum of a Calgary social service agency.
Mary Elizabeth, co-editor of Alberta's Blue Buffalo literary magazine for two years, is an inspirational speaker, a registered nurse, and is the mother or six children. For 4 years she wrote a column for FellowScript National Writer's magazine. She currently works in the field of poetry therapy. For the past 4 years she has taught poetry to street kids through the Servants Anonymous Society of Calgary.
For over two years she authored the column "Lives of Alberta Poets" published in each edition of Blue Buffalo magazine.
Mary Elizabeth was founder and host of the Alberta Poetry reading series, held monthly in the Dalhousie Chapter's Bookstore for the past three years. Poets from across Alberta, such as Christopher Wiseman, Richard Stevenson, Richard Harrison and Claire Harris have read in this series. She leads the Poet's Cellar Critique Group as well as Annie's Company of Poet's workshop group, which meets monthly at Annie's Book Company (formerly Bob's Books) on 16th Avenue NW in Calgary .
Mary's work has been published in scholarly and literary journals in India, Australia, England, Wales, the USA, and across Canada. Her poetry has been presented on the CBC radio program, Wild Rose Country. Recently she was interviewed about her poetry therapy work for the Television Show MC MAGAZINE. This was produced in Lethbridge and broadcast via Satellite.
Mary is a frequent presenter of poetry and journalling and life-writing presentations. Among these presentations have been several to the Calgary Writer's Association, several to the Calgary Board of Education Young Writer's conference and at the National Book Festival.