Faces of CSC: Mary Stephenson, a lifelong community champion in Grande Cache
June 6, 2025
When Mary Stephenson and her husband arrived in Grande Cache, Alberta in 1969, the town was little more than a bold vision nestled high in the Rocky Mountains. Drawn by an ad in the British Medical Journal, the couple left the UK for a fresh start in Canada. Her husband, Brian, became the town’s first doctor, and she, its first nurse.
Their home, one of the few with a roof at the time, quickly became the de facto emergency room for a fledgling coal-mining community in need of both medical care and human connection.
“I never imagined we would still be here more than five decades later,” Mary reflects. “But this town gave us a life, a home, and a purpose. It’s the only home we’ve ever known in Canada.”
For nearly 30 years, Mary has been the heart of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) at Grande Cache Institution (GCI) and a steadfast pillar of the town itself. Her legacy is one of compassion, leadership, and an enduring commitment to public service—making her a truly deserving recipient of the 2024 James A. Murphy Award.
Mary’s sense of duty to the community has extended well beyond nursing. She was elected to the school board, became a Justice of the Peace in the 1980s, and served two terms on the National Parole Board. When the province considered closing the local jail in the early 1990s, Mary successfully lobbied for Correctional Service Canada (CSC) to assume control, leading to the establishment of GCI in 1995.
That same year, she joined the newly formed CAC at GCI, serving as its chairperson for 20 years. Her tenure was marked by tireless dedication, strategic leadership, and an unwavering belief in the power of community-based corrections.
Mary’s work was instrumental during GCI’s transition from minimum to medium security in 2007. Drawing on her parole board experience, she facilitated public meetings, helped draft new policies, and served as a calming presence during a tense and uncertain time.
“As the Assistant Warden of Operations and Medium Security Conversion Manager in 2007 to 2008, I had the privilege to work with Mary during the conversion,” recalls Bill McCormick, Deputy Warden at GCI. “She played a pivotal role working with the community and institutional personnel, easing concerns, and using her excellent interpersonal skills to alleviate any issues noted. Mary is a loving wife, mother, and active community volunteer—an invaluable member of our CAC.”
Mary’s impact does not end at the prison walls. She has been deeply involved with the Grande Cache Food Bank and was a founding force behind its annual community Christmas dinner—now the town’s largest charity event, serving over 800 meals annually, and raising more than $17,000 last year.
The dinner not only unites the community but also gives incarcerated individuals the opportunity to give back by preparing meals under supervision and reinforcing the principles of restorative justice that Mary holds dear.
“I was just interested in the idea of making things better for inmates,” she says. “It’s so important to give them experiences that would help them reintegrate when they got back out into the community.”
Even after stepping down as local Chair in 2016, Mary remains an active CAC member, mentor, and community leader. Her humility belies the depth of her contributions. “When they phoned me about the award, I had to call back the next day to make sure I’d heard correctly,” she laughs. “It was a complete shock.
“Looking out my kitchen window now, I see the white-capped mountains, and I am struck by how beautiful it is here in my community. Canada has been very good to me and my family, and I am very grateful to be able to give something back.”
CSC is thankful for the exceptional role Mary has played with the CAC. Her presence at the institution, as well as her role within corrections and in her community, will undoubtably have a lasting impact.
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