Arlene Perly Rae

Arlene Perly Rae (born 1949) is a Canadian journalist, author and arts patron. She is married to Canadian politician Bob Rae.

Educated at the University of Toronto, Perly Rae was a longtime reviewer of children's literature for the "Toronto Star". In 1997, she published "Everybody's Favourites", a consumer guide to children's literature which evaluated some of the best books in the genre. She has also written as a freelancer for "The Globe and Mail", "Quill and Quire" and "Maclean's". Her interest in the welfare of children has led her to be a part of the national Campaign Against Child Poverty.

Perly Rae has also been on the boards of McClelland and Stewart, the Stratford Festival, and World Literacy of Canada, as well as on the Steering Committee for the United Way of Greater Toronto. She is currently co-chairing the YWCA's Elm Centre Capital Campaign, a project set to create 300 units of permanent housing for women and women-led families in Toronto. Perly Rae has also volunteered her time to various endeavours at the University of Toronto and in recognition of her contribution, she was made a recipient of the U of T Arbor Award in 2008. Perly Rae is frequently invited to give speeches on such diverse topics as literacy, combating racism, and the importance of the arts.