Mary Leslie received her MSW from the University of British Columbia School of Social Work in 1969 and was a sessional faculty member 2008-2013. She has over 30 years’ experience in health care including the BC Cancer Agency and Burnaby Palliative Care Program and has been in private practice since 2001. She is a clinical member of the Satir Institute of the Pacific.
Mary participates extensively at Branch and Board levels and presented webinars for CASW and presentations and workshops for BCASW. She has been published in the Canadian Journal of Counselling (2003), the Satir International Journal (2016), and Perspectives. She is a longstanding volunteer with BCASW and valued colleague who is willing to share her expertise and her compassion.
Versed in a multi-modal form of practice including face to face, telephone, and secure video counselling; she has kept abreast of technology to broaden her practice and to make counselling more accessible for those unable to utilize traditional forms.
Some of Mary’s early social work experiences were ground-breaking and inspirational. She was part of the team that set up a downtown Vancouver community health clinic and she worked with the Children’s Foundation. Later at St Paul’s, Lion’s Gate Hospitals, and the Northshore Health Unit she participated in setting up the Closer To Home palliative care program.
Mary volunteered in South Africa in 2006 with camps for vulnerable and orphaned children; setting up a referral system with the local social services. She worked extensively in BC for causes related to social justice, peace, and the environment. She is a strong and persistent spokesperson, whose clarity, fairness, gentle manner, and compassion model the values of her conviction to act for a safe and just world.