Mary Gordon
Roots of Empathy
Toronto, ON
Mary Gordon is recognized internationally as an award-winning social entrepreneur, educator, author, child advocate and parenting expert who has created programs informed by the power of empathy. In 1996 she created the Roots of Empathy program in Ontario. Her not-for-profit organization offers programs in every province of Canada, New Zealand, the USA, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Costa Rica, South Korea, and Norway. In 2005, Ms. Gordon created the Seeds of Empathy program for 3 to 5 year olds in child care. She is also the founder of Canada’s first and largest school-based Parenting and Family Literacy Centres, which she initiated in 1981. They have become public policy in Ontario and have been used as a best practice model internationally.
