Mariah was born and raised in Punamu’kwati’jk (Dartmouth), Nova Scotia, The City of Lakes, where she was privileged to have access to natural aquatic and green spaces on a daily basis. The opportunity to participate allowed Mariah to pursue her interests across a variety of sports and recreational activities, where she gained confidence in her ability to contribute to the communities she aligns herself with. Retirement from competitive sport allowed Mariah to broaden her understanding of the benefits of leisure in all its forms, and instilled a passion to educate Canadians and remove the barriers, both real and perceived, that prevent people from participating and engaging with themselves and others through leisure.