Maria David-Evans
After 45 years of public service, Maria David-Evans retired from the Government of Alberta (GoA) in November of 2011, after serving 14 years as Deputy Minister for various Ministries including: Aboriginal Relations; Children’s Services; Learning (K-12 Education, Advanced Education and Immigration); Infrastructure; and Family and Social Services. Before joining the GoA, for 31 years Ms. David-Evans built her career in the public service with the City of Edmonton. There she held senior management positions in the departments of: Parks and Recreation; Planning; and Community and Family Services.
Having entered the work force in 1967, Ms. David-Evans was at the forefront of entering a male-dominated workforce in Edmonton Parks and Recreation. She not only excelled in numerous and varied positions as the first female manager and leader, but in fact concluded her career with the City as the first and only female General Manager of Edmonton Parks and Recreation, the largest municipal recreation department in Canada at that time. Being the first female in a leadership position continued in her roles as Deputy Minister with the Government of Alberta, namely as its first female deputy for Social Services, K-12 Education and as the first Female Deputy Minister of Infrastructure. In addition to her many years of mentoring leaders at all levels, for the past 8 years Maria has also been hired by the GoA to mentor and coach its senior officials (Deputies and Deputy Ministers).
Stepping back into the workforce from retirement and on a short-term basis from October 2016 to June 2017, Ms. David–Evans assumed the role of Interim President and CEO of Legal Aid Alberta.
Since 2012, Ms. David-Evans has been teaching Leadership at the University of Alberta’s School of Business both in its MBA and B.Com. programs, as well as collaborating with not-for-profit organizations in supervising and overseeing the Student Board Internship credit program for Leadership Certificate students. Through her MDE Consulting Services since 2012 she has also been facilitating a wide variety of workshops including policy essentials for Government of Alberta employees.
EDUCATION
Dedicated to life-long learning, Maria’s undergraduate work includes: Recreation Administration; Biology; Math; and Economics. She holds two masters degrees: an MBA and an MA in Sociology and has completed all her course work towards a Ph.D in Criminology. She also holds a Registered Social Worker (RSW) designation, and in 2007 was awarded a fellowship at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business – Centre for Social Innovation.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Ms. David-Evans is Past President of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, as well as having served as Chair of the Edmonton Regional IPAC board for several years, and continues to serve as an IPAC volunteer. At the national level, she just concluded an 8 year term as a Director of the Board of the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) of Canada. Provincially, Ms. David-Evans serves on the Practice Review Board for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and has been a member of the External Advisory Panel for Alberta’s Auditor General. Locally, at the end of 2019 she completed several terms on Sturgeon County’s Assessment Review Board. She has also served on the Sturgeon Valley Subdivision and Development Appeal Board and the Sturgeon Valley’s Economic Advisory Board.
For decades, Maria David-Evans has been a strong supporter of the arts. She is a founding member of the Alberta Sculptors’ Association and the Edmonton Arts Council. She served 9 years on the Boards of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Francis Winspear Center for Music and until last year, she also sat on the Board of the Meyer Horowitz Theatre Society. Ms. David-Evans supports a scholarship for artists at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity and in the past was a member of the Clifford E. Lee Foundation supporting numerous artists and artistic endeavors. Today Ms. David-Evans serves on the Board of Pro Coro Canada and Chairs its Governance and Board Development Committee.
RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
Ms. David-Evans has received numerous awards for her leadership, her contributions to the field of public administration and her vast community service. She is the recipient of the 2020 Alberta Lieutenant Governor’s Award (IPAC), preceded by the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for her contributions to the public sector and her community, as well as being a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal back in 2002 again for her contributions and accomplishments in the field of public administration.
Twice (November 2003 and November 2004) Ms. David-Evans was named as one of Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women with her long history of volunteerism being a contributing factor.
Ms. David-Evans was also honoured by the Canadian Association of School Administrators in 2004 with their Distinguished Service Award and was also the recipient of the President’s Award from the Alberta Home and School Council Association in 2000. In 2004 she was also recognized for her leadership by Careers the Next Generation and in 2007 by CANARIE again for her leadership and support in implementing educational internet connections across the whole of Canada.
In 2006, along with her team in Alberta’s Children’s Services Team, they received the Premier’s Gold Award of Excellence. In 1999, she also received the Family Service of Canada’s Leadership Award for her contributions to families and community.
As partners with her late husband, Keith and Maria won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics for ice sculpting as well as three silver medals in international competitions and numerous gold and silver medals within Canada. This brought recognition in the form of two City of Edmonton Civic Achievement Awards (1989 and 1990), and an Alberta Achievement Award in 1991.
She has three accomplished daughters and four marvelous grandchildren. She enjoys swimming, gardening, quilting, traveling, the symphony and choral music, golfing and spending time with her family.
Having entered the work force in 1967, Ms. David-Evans was at the forefront of entering a male-dominated workforce in Edmonton Parks and Recreation. She not only excelled in numerous and varied positions as the first female manager and leader, but in fact concluded her career with the City as the first and only female General Manager of Edmonton Parks and Recreation, the largest municipal recreation department in Canada at that time. Being the first female in a leadership position continued in her roles as Deputy Minister with the Government of Alberta, namely as its first female deputy for Social Services, K-12 Education and as the first Female Deputy Minister of Infrastructure. In addition to her many years of mentoring leaders at all levels, for the past 8 years Maria has also been hired by the GoA to mentor and coach its senior officials (Deputies and Deputy Ministers).
Stepping back into the workforce from retirement and on a short-term basis from October 2016 to June 2017, Ms. David–Evans assumed the role of Interim President and CEO of Legal Aid Alberta.
Since 2012, Ms. David-Evans has been teaching Leadership at the University of Alberta’s School of Business both in its MBA and B.Com. programs, as well as collaborating with not-for-profit organizations in supervising and overseeing the Student Board Internship credit program for Leadership Certificate students. Through her MDE Consulting Services since 2012 she has also been facilitating a wide variety of workshops including policy essentials for Government of Alberta employees.
EDUCATION
Dedicated to life-long learning, Maria’s undergraduate work includes: Recreation Administration; Biology; Math; and Economics. She holds two masters degrees: an MBA and an MA in Sociology and has completed all her course work towards a Ph.D in Criminology. She also holds a Registered Social Worker (RSW) designation, and in 2007 was awarded a fellowship at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business – Centre for Social Innovation.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Ms. David-Evans is Past President of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, as well as having served as Chair of the Edmonton Regional IPAC board for several years, and continues to serve as an IPAC volunteer. At the national level, she just concluded an 8 year term as a Director of the Board of the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) of Canada. Provincially, Ms. David-Evans serves on the Practice Review Board for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and has been a member of the External Advisory Panel for Alberta’s Auditor General. Locally, at the end of 2019 she completed several terms on Sturgeon County’s Assessment Review Board. She has also served on the Sturgeon Valley Subdivision and Development Appeal Board and the Sturgeon Valley’s Economic Advisory Board.
For decades, Maria David-Evans has been a strong supporter of the arts. She is a founding member of the Alberta Sculptors’ Association and the Edmonton Arts Council. She served 9 years on the Boards of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Francis Winspear Center for Music and until last year, she also sat on the Board of the Meyer Horowitz Theatre Society. Ms. David-Evans supports a scholarship for artists at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity and in the past was a member of the Clifford E. Lee Foundation supporting numerous artists and artistic endeavors. Today Ms. David-Evans serves on the Board of Pro Coro Canada and Chairs its Governance and Board Development Committee.
RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
Ms. David-Evans has received numerous awards for her leadership, her contributions to the field of public administration and her vast community service. She is the recipient of the 2020 Alberta Lieutenant Governor’s Award (IPAC), preceded by the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for her contributions to the public sector and her community, as well as being a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal back in 2002 again for her contributions and accomplishments in the field of public administration.
Twice (November 2003 and November 2004) Ms. David-Evans was named as one of Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women with her long history of volunteerism being a contributing factor.
Ms. David-Evans was also honoured by the Canadian Association of School Administrators in 2004 with their Distinguished Service Award and was also the recipient of the President’s Award from the Alberta Home and School Council Association in 2000. In 2004 she was also recognized for her leadership by Careers the Next Generation and in 2007 by CANARIE again for her leadership and support in implementing educational internet connections across the whole of Canada.
In 2006, along with her team in Alberta’s Children’s Services Team, they received the Premier’s Gold Award of Excellence. In 1999, she also received the Family Service of Canada’s Leadership Award for her contributions to families and community.
As partners with her late husband, Keith and Maria won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics for ice sculpting as well as three silver medals in international competitions and numerous gold and silver medals within Canada. This brought recognition in the form of two City of Edmonton Civic Achievement Awards (1989 and 1990), and an Alberta Achievement Award in 1991.
She has three accomplished daughters and four marvelous grandchildren. She enjoys swimming, gardening, quilting, traveling, the symphony and choral music, golfing and spending time with her family.
