Every group that hopes to remain connected needs someone to be the “glue.” For the planning class of 1995, that person is Anne-Marie Marais.
As the Faculty of Environment’s first official class champion, Anne-Marie (BES ’95) has made a name for herself as an entrepreneur, avid volunteer, and loyal Waterloo ambassador. She has organized her class’ 10 and 20-year class reunions, led a successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaign to raise nearly $25,000 for the Planning Class of 1995 entrance scholarship, and she has recently moved into the role of Leadership Advisor for the Waterloo Toronto Alumni Chapter, the university’s largest chapter, after previously holding the role of c0-leader of the Chapter.
Anne-Marie traces her love of the School of Planning to her very first days as an undergrad — crediting her experiences, both in and out of the classroom, for helping to shape the person she is today.
A dedicated volunteer she is a Welcome Team member at Toronto Pearson Airport and a mentor for Futurpreneur Canada. She has volunteered for the Girl Guides of Canada, the Toronto Pan/Parapan American Games, and Ovarian Cancer Canada. She mentors Waterloo students through ENVConnect and has spoken at faculty events. If that were not enough, she bravely participates in an annual dip in Lake Ontario on January 1st to raise funds for Boost Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.
Professionally, Anne-Marie runs her own digital media company, Long Legs Media, providing marketing and content creation expertise specializing in digital, social media, and ongoing marketing strategy and execution. Her work ranges from large corporate clients to supporting similar entrepreneurial businesses like her own.
Outside of work and volunteering, Anne-Marie is on a personal quest to step foot in every province and territory. Only Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut remain on her list.