As a director, actor and playwright, Mary Vingoe has championed Canadian theatre and its artists. Renowned for her creative and visionary leadership, she served as founding artistic director of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival, which travels to different cities across Canada to bring regional theatre productions to a national audience. In Nova Scotia, she was founding artistic director of the Eastern Front Theatre Company, and co-founder and co-artistic director of The Ship's Company, where she developed and produced works featuring Maritime playwrights and actors. She is also highly regarded for providing female actors and writers with more opportunities to showcase their works, notably by co-founding the Nightwood Theatre, in Toronto.