Angela Cantwell-Peters
Angela Cantwell Peters was born on March 10, 1930, in St. John's, the eldest of Peter and Madeline Withers’ nine children. Angela received her early education at Presentation Convent in Carbonear and at Mercy Business College in St. John's and also completed advanced management and business courses at Harvard and York universities.
In 1947, at the age of 17, Angela began her career at Bowring Brothers Limited with a job in the steno pool where she progressed through various management positions until 1978 when she was named president. In 1979, she was named chief executive officer and in 1980, while retaining the title of CEO, Angela was named chairman of the board. In this capacity, she was responsible for all North American insurance, real estate and retail operations including 81 Bowring Little Shops throughout Canada and the United States. In 1984, Marsh & McLellan, owner of the St. John's- based Bowring Brothers, sold the company, and Angela retired having worked there for thirty-seven years.
Throughout her career, Angela was actively involved in business and public service having served as a member of the St. John's and Halifax Boards of Trade, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Council of Canada. She also served on the Honourable Donald
MacDonald's Royal Commission on the Economic Union and Development Prospects for Canada. She was vice chair of the Board of Regents of Memorial University of Newfoundland and chair of its Finance Committee. Angela served on the advisory group to the Prime Minister on Senior Public Sector Compensation and on the Standards Council of
Canada. She was a member of the Grand Jury for Selection of Canada Awards of Excellence and served on the Committee to Recommend on Investor Immigration for Canada.