Newmarket has posthumously awarded one of its highest civic honours to community champion Mary Ann Slattery, recognizing her decades of devotion to improving the lives of others. Mayor John Taylor presented the Mayor’s Medal of Exceptional Community Service to her husband of 53 years, Terry Slattery, on December 1, marking three years since her passing.
Slattery spent more than four decades helping shape Newmarket into a more compassionate and connected town. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the early 1990s, she responded not with retreat but with activism. She co-founded the Hope Ball — drawing inspiration from the film Lorenzo’s Oil — and led a circle of family and community members who helped raise $6 million for neurological research. Taylor emphasized that her goal was never just financial: “She didn’t just raise funds — she raised people up.”
Beyond advocacy, Slattery quietly supported residents facing illness, driving young cancer patients to medical appointments and volunteering in multiple roles for the MS Society. She spearheaded events such as the MS Walk, charity bingo nights, and yoga classes, and helped establish the York North MS Society office to expand services for those living with the disease.
When she was diagnosed with cancer in 2012, she beat it — and continued serving the community even after a relapse eight years later. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she sewed and distributed masks to long-term care homes and Southlake Regional Health Centre. She later brought comfort to families through her volunteer work at Margaret Bahen Hospice, where she also helped organize a handbag auction fundraiser. Her fundraisers were known not only for generosity but for humour — including her memorable “cow patty bingo” event that transformed St. Paul’s Church parking lot into a cheerful charity space.
Twice named Newmarket’s Citizen of the Year and honoured with the Community Volunteer Ambassador award, Slattery never sought titles or applause. “She did it because she believed in people, and she believed in her community,” Taylor told the audience.
Slattery died on September 30, 2022, at age 74. Mayor Taylor closed with the same tribute he delivered at her funeral: “Mary Ann’s infectious optimism, selfless service, and dedication to making the lives of others better made Newmarket a warmer and more welcoming place. Thank you, Mary Ann, for all you did for our town.”
