UPEI mourns the passing of Dr. Marie Burge, LLD
The University of Prince Edward Island is mourning the passing of Dr. Marie Burge, honorary degree recipient, social activist, and community leader, who passed away on August 10, 2026.
Dr. Burge was a founding member and CEO of Cooper Institute of PEI, where she worked to advance its vision of empowering groups and individuals who are involved in social change. For over 40 years, she served disadvantaged individuals and families and motivated communities to action. She was an alumna of St. Dunstan’s University and taught at UPEI as a sessional lecturer. She also collaborated with the University on many research initiatives and projects.
She was a passionate champion for social justice, advocating for a national basic income guarantee, protection of PEI lands, proportional representation in government, food sovereignty, immigration, gender equality, and more. She was a founding member of the Coalition for the Protection of PEI Lands, and a long-time member of the Latin American Mission Program and the National Farmers Union.
Over the years, Dr. Burge received many accolades and awards from the community, including the Order of PEI in 1998, an honorary degree from UPEI in 2013, the inaugural Leo Cheverie Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025, the Voluntary Resource Council Volunteer Award in 2024, the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Award, the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Psychological Association of PEI, the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Medal, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025.
The UPEI community expresses condolences to Dr. Burge’s family, friends, and colleagues. Read the obituary here.
