Bourque, Mary Joanne Gagne

Born at Dalhousie, NB; deaf in infancy from scarlet fever. Mainstreamed in public school beginning at age 6, but later transferred to the Interprovincial School for the Deaf in Amherst, NS in 1969. Graduated Atlantic Technological Vocational Centre 1979 and became a data entry clerk before becoming a full-time mother for 16 years beginning 1984. In 2000, became a Deaf intepreter through a special training program and started mentoring young deaf girls and advocating for more social services for the deaf of New Brunswick. Married to Paul Bourque, also deaf.