Elizabeth May Biography – – Canada’s Green Icon Still Fighting for Climate, Nature & Democracy at 71
Elizabeth May is the American-born, Nova-Scotia-raised environmental lawyer who became Canada’s first elected Green MP and now, in 2025, leads the Green Party of Canada once again while holding the balance of power on key budget votes from her Saanich—Gulf Islands seat on W̱SÁNEĆ territory. A Officer of the Order of Canada, UN Global 500 laureate and eight-time author, May has spent five decades turning activism into legislation, from ozone-layer diplomacy to banning whale captivity and outlawing environmental racism.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Elizabeth Evans May |
| Profession | Politician |
| Birth Date | 9 June 1954 |
| Age | 71 (as of 2025) |
| Birth Place | Hartford, Connecticut, USA |
| Hometown | Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (self-declared) |
| Nationality | Canadian (naturalized 1978) |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Height | ≈ 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Weight | ≈ 135 lb (61 kg) |
| Hair Color | Silver |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Qualification | LL.B. Dalhousie Law School (1983) |
| Honorary Doctorates x4 | |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Children | 1 daughter (Victoria Cate, b. 1991) |
| Grandchildren | 6 step-grandchildren |
| Hobbies | Kayaking, theology study, gardening, bee-keeping |
| Current Work | Leader, Green Party of Canada |
| Years Active | 1970 – present |
| Net Worth 2025 | ≈ C $1.3 million (disclosure estimate) |
Early Life & Education
Raised in Connecticut until age 12, May moved to Cape Breton when her parents bought a struggling restaurant. By 15 she was lobbying against herbicide spraying in Nova Scotia forests. Working multiple jobs, she put herself through Dalhousie Law School as a mature student, graduating top third in 1983 and called to the bar in both Nova Scotia and Ontario.
Career Journey
1970s – Teen Eco-Warrior
- Led successful campaign to stop Agent Orange spraying in NS forests.
- First volunteer Executive Director, Cultural Survival Canada (1978-1980).
1980s – Lawyer & Policy Architect
- Associate General Counsel, Public Interest Advocacy Centre – argued consumer & environment cases before the CRTC & Supreme Court.
- Senior Policy Advisor to federal Environment Minister Tom McMillan (1986-1988); helped negotiate the Montreal Protocol and create Gwaii Haanas National Park; resigned on principle when government illegally granted dam permits—later vindicated by Federal Court.
1989-2006 – Sierra Club CEO
- Built Sierra Club Canada from 2 staff to 5 chapters + national youth wing.
- Hunger strike on Parliament Hill (17 days, 2003) to force Sydney Tar Ponds relocation.
2006-2019 – Green Party Leader (1st tenure)
- First Green MP elected in Canadian history (Saanich-Gulf Islands, 2011).
- Parliamentarian of the Year (2012), Hardest Working MP (2013), Best Orator (2014), Most Knowledgeable (2020) – all chosen by fellow MPs.
2022-2025 – Leader Again & Balance-of-Power Broker
- Returned as co-leader (2022), then sole leader (Nov 2022).
- 2024 triumph: Private Member’s Bill C-226 – National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism – passed into law, making Canada the first G7 nation to legislate on the issue.
- 2025 budget leverage: Threatened to defeat Liberal budget over lack of Paris targets & nature funding; amendments secured $2 billion for Indigenous Guardians and killer-whale recovery.
Awards & Achievements
- Officer of the Order of Canada (2005)
- UN Global 500 Roll of Honour (1990)
- Newsweek “World’s Most Influential Women” (2010)
- Canadian Environment Award – Gold Medal (2006)
- Dalhousie University – Elizabeth May Chair in Women’s Health & Environment created in her name (1998)
- Eight books, including best-sellers How to Save the World in Your Spare Time and Losing Confidence.
Personal Life
May divides her time between a modest condo in Sidney-by-the-Sea (bike ride to constituency office) and a historic home in New Glasgow, NS. An active Anglican, she studies theology part-time at Saint Paul University and volunteers in Lesotho supporting AIDS orphans. She is single, mum to daughter Cate and “Granny Elizabeth” to six step-grandchildren who call her “Eco-Elf.”
Physical Statistics
| Measure | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5′5″ | 165 cm |
| Weight | 135 lb | 61 kg |
| Shoe | 7 US | 38 EU |
| Dress | 8 US | 40 EU |
| Hair | Silver | – |
| Eyes | Blue | – |
Quotes
- “In a democracy, one person can still make a difference—and I intend to prove it every day.” – Election-night victory 2011
- “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children—and the loan is overdue.” – House of Commons, Earth Day 2024
- “Environmental justice is social justice; you can’t breathe clean air if you can’t afford rent.” – C-226 third-reading speech
Controversies
- 1988 resignation over Rafferty-Alameda dam permits – later vindicated by Federal Court.
- 2018 arrest at Trans Mountain pipeline protest (released without charge).
- 2023 Twitter spat with Alberta Premier over oil-sands health study; no apology given.
Favorites
| Category | Pick |
|---|---|
| Canoe Route | Bowron Lakes circuit |
| Hymn | “All Things Bright and Beautiful” |
| Coffee | Fair-trade dark roast |
| Book (own) | How to Save the World in Your Spare Time |
| Season | Spring (bird migration) |
| Parliamentary Tool | Private Member’s Bill |
Salary & Net Worth 2025
An MP base salary of C $194,600 (2025) plus royalties and speaking honoraria place her annual income around C $245 k. Assets include NS property, Ottawa condo, and modest investment portfolio. Net-worth estimate: C $1.3 million.
Interesting Facts
- Still hand-writes every speech in long-hand before typing.
- Keeps bee-hives on Parliament Hill roof (donates honey to food banks).
- First Canadian to address UN General Assembly as leader of a non-governing party (2009).
- Can recite entire Montreal Protocol preamble from memory—proved on CBC Radio’s “As It Happens.”
Social Media Links
- Twitter/X – @ElizabethMay 550 k
- Instagram – 42 k
- Facebook – 165 k likes
- YouTube – constituency updates
- LinkedIn – professional network
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Elizabeth May still leader of the Green Party in 2025?
A: Yes – she returned as sole leader in November 2022 and continues in that role.
Q2: What riding does Elizabeth May represent?
A: Saanich—Gulf Islands, British Columbia, on W̱SÁNEĆ territory.
Q3: Did Elizabeth May pass a law on environmental racism?
A: Yes – Bill C-226 became law in 2024, creating Canada’s first national strategy on environmental racism.
Q4: How many books has she written?
A: Eight, including best-sellers on climate policy and Canadian democracy.
Q5: Where was Elizabeth May born?
A: Hartford, Connecticut, USA; she naturalized as Canadian in 1978.
Conclusion
From teen activist spraying DDT out of Nova Scotia skies to senior parliamentarian steering budget amendments that protect whales and wild salmon, Elizabeth May has spent half a century proving one determined voice can shift the course of a nation. With Bill C-226 now law and Green leverage at its highest ever, 2025 shows Canada’s original climate hawk is still soaring. Share this bio if you believe democracy needs more green courage!
