Brandon University is honoured to welcome Senator Mary Jane McCallum to give a public presentation next week.

Dr. McCallum, a First Nations woman of Cree heritage who was appointed in 2017 to represent Manitoba in the Senate, is a dentist who devoted most of her career to providing dental and medical services to northern and Indigenous communities in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

She will present in the John E. Robbins Library on “How Senate Can Work With Community” on Wednesday, Jan. 22 starting at 7 p.m.

All are invited.

About Senator Mary Jane McCallum

Dr. Mary Jane McCallum is a First Nations woman of Cree heritage and an advocate for social justice who, over the course of her distinguished career, has provided dental care to First Nations communities across Manitoba.

She received a Dental Nursing Diploma at the Wascana Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in 1977 and a Dental Therapy Diploma at the School of Dental Therapy in 1979, before earning a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Manitoba in 1990.

From 1979 to 1996, she was involved in the dental field in various capacities, including as a dental therapist in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba communities and as an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba running a dental clinic in Churchill and overseeing students completing their practicum. From 1996 to 2000, she worked on an interchange with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs as the Regional Dental Officer for the province.

From 1992 to 1996 and from 2003 to 2010, Dr. McCallum worked in her home community of Brochet, where she managed community health programs, including a children’s dental program, a diabetes program, and prenatal program, and volunteered for several committees, including a housing committee, a school committee, and an education committee. She also ran a monthly dinner and meeting with the Elders to discuss social issues affecting the community.

Since her appointment to Senate she continues to provide some weeks of dental care in various communities when Senate is not sitting.

In addition to her professional endeavours, Dr. McCallum leads workshops and presentations in which she shares her personal experience as a residential school survivor in an effort to raise awareness and understanding, and to work towards reconciliation.

Dr. McCallum is a member of the Manitoba Dental Association, as well as the Canadian Dental Association.