Originally from Indiana, Mary studied science and engineering at Purdue University before receiving her BA from New Mexico State University in 1969. She moved to Waterloo for graduate studies in English, and later continued her studies at the University of Toronto. Bales began her career in real estate in 1974.
Within the community, Bales has been a board member of the Kitchener-Waterloo United Way, as well as the Grand River Hospital and the YWCA of Kitchener-Waterloo. The Governor General of Canada honoured Bales with a Meritorious Service Medal in 2006.
Bales became increasingly concerned about the lack of affordable housing in our region while working with the YWCA and its shelter for women. This led to the creation of Heartwood Place in 2001, a charitable organization that builds and manages affordable housing in Waterloo region. The first project in downtown Kitchener of 33 apartments won a National Housing Award for Best Practices in 2004. The next project, of 66 apartments in central Galt, has just received funding of $4.62 million from the government under the "Brownfields Initiative".
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