Alumni Spotlight: Mair Greenfield
Mar 12, 2026 | Canadore College Alumni
Mair Greenfield
For Mair Greenfield, education has always been about more than achievement—it’s about responsibility, connection, and making pathways a little smoother for every learner. Born and raised in North Bay, Ontario, Mair grew up surrounded by examples of service and advocacy. Her mother founded the Nipissing Transition House and played a pivotal role in establishing transition houses across Ontario, leaving a legacy of protection and care for those experiencing violence. Her stepfather, a professor at Canadore College, further rooted education as a constant presence in her life. Through her father’s side, Mair is a proud member of Kebaowek First Nation, a connection that continues to ground her work in community, culture, and identity.
Mair graduated from Canadore College’s Corrections program in 2007, earning a remarkable 3.98 GPA. While academic excellence opened doors, it was her curiosity and willingness to explore unconventional paths that shaped her career. Her journey has been anything but linear—working in restaurants and pubs, teaching English in South Korea, and serving as a youth worker in secure custody. Each experience helped build her understanding of people, systems, and the importance of meeting individuals where they are.
Throughout her career, Mair has worked at the intersection of access and opportunity. She has facilitated student placements, community service-learning, and mentorship programs within post-secondary institutions, always with a focus on equity and inclusion. Her work has taken her into innovative spaces—helping develop not-for-profit technology designed to deliver learning to communities without internet access, exploring Indigenous foodways and the principles of food as a commons and food sovereignty, and supporting the creation of post-secondary programming within Indigenous communities themselves.
One of Mair’s most meaningful contributions has been her leadership in national reconciliation programming as Director of Education at the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF)—work she describes as carrying deep responsibility and purpose. At the heart of this work is the Legacy Schools program, a national initiative supporting educators throughout Canada as they bring reconciliation into their everyday teaching practice. Through curriculum resources, community partnerships, and a growing network of committed educators, Legacy Schools is helping reshape how young people learn about Indigenous history, culture, and the ongoing journey of reconciliation—through awareness, education, and meaningful connection.
Looking ahead, the fall will mark the 10th anniversary of Secret Path—Gord Downie’s powerful tribute to Chanie Wenjack. The milestone offers a moment to reflect on how far reconciliation education has come and to recommit to the work still ahead. The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, alongside the Legacy Schools community, will recognize the educators, students, Nations, and communities who have taken reconciliACTION steps over the past decade, continuing to build momentum for lasting change.
Most recently, Mair delivered a TEDx talk on the future of Indigenous education, weaving together years of experience shaped by her work in education, food sovereignty, and community empowerment—a reminder that the path forward is rooted in relationship, responsibility, and hope.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Mair’s greatest pride is her daughter, Emmy. A talented artist and dedicated student, Emmy has been a passionate advocate for reconciliation for as long as she can remember—living proof that when young people are given the language, the space, and the invitation to engage, they show up with their whole hearts.
In many ways, Emmy reflects the spirit of what Gord Downie envisioned—a Canada where young people grow up understanding the truth of this country’s history and choosing, freely and fiercely, to be part of its healing. Watching her daughter move through the world with that awareness and commitment reminds Mair every day why this work matters, and who it is ultimately for.
Much of Mair’s work, she says, comes back to building bridges—between people, communities, and knowledge systems. She has created a digital library of more than ten thousand resources designed to educate and empower, and co-authored Food is Our Medicine alongside Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous healthcare professionals from across the country, honouring traditional wisdom while advancing collective healing.
For Mair, education remains a living, relational process—one that thrives when rooted in community, courage, and a shared commitment to learning from one another.
Words of Wisdom
“If you're unsure about something, just ask. A ‘no’ is simply information—it helps you move forward.”
“Not asking leaves you stuck in uncertainty, which is far worse than any rejection.”
“Getting comfortable with hearing ‘no’ frees you to seek more opportunities and clarity.”
Mair Greenfield
Corrections Program (Class of 2007)