Mary (Burkholder) draws inspiration from the beauty of the world around her: whether it’s in a cosmopolitan city like St. Petersburg, London or Cape Town, remote hiking on the Inca trail or in the Swiss Alps, or simply visiting with a fellow traveller over local cuisine. She has lived abroad, travelled extensively, enjoyed hiking and has explored many UNESCO sites. She has co-led many international learning tours over the years with her husband, Len. Mary was an educator and a Special Education Consultant for the Waterloo Board of Education. Mary was married to Leonard Friesen in 1977 and they have called Waterloo, Ontario their home for the last 35 years. Together, they have been blessed with 3 adult children, three in-laws and 7 grandchildren.