Marie McNeil Bowness was born April 22, 1961, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bowness was always a talented figure skater and in 1973, at the age of twelve, she was teamed with Robert McCall at the Halifax Skating Club. During their first year together, they were Nova Scotia Novice Dance Champions and Eastern Canadian Champions.

In 1975, they earned the silver medal in Novice Dance at the Canadian championships, their first national competition. They were the Nova Scotia Junior Champions and came seventh at the Canadian Championship in Junior Dance in 1976.

Other victories included Provincial Junior Dance Champions (1972), bronze at the Junior World Championships, third at the Canadian championships (Senior Dance, 1978), second at the Canadian championships (Senior Dance) and 13th at World Championships in 1980. Finally, in 1981, McNeil and McCall recognized their dream and were the Senior Dance Champions of Canada and placed 12th in the World Championships that year. After their win, Bowness retired and began coaching. Marie Bowness was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.