Marilyn Trenholme Counsell has made outstanding contributions to public life in New Brunswick and in Canada. From her early beginnings in medicine, to her distinguished career as a provincial politician, lieutenant governor and senator, she has continuously advocated for early childhood development and literacy. She was instrumental in establishing Born to Read, an initiative of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) that provides gifts of books to new parents. She has also provided leadership to several organizations, including the Vanier Institute of the Family.