Each year the McGill Alumni Association recognizes alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff whose commitment has had a significant impact on alumni life, the University and/or the community.
This year's MAA Honours and Awards Banquet was held on May 2, 2017.
Meet our honourees for 2017:
Award of Merit
Mark Hantho, BCom’81, and Monica Hantho, BEd’81
McGill’s ‘Team Hantho’ began when Mark and Monica were students on campus and, over the years, the dedicated duo have consistently demonstrated their commitment to the University through extensive volunteering and generous support.
Mark, Chairman of Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. and Global Head of Equity Capital Markets at Deutsche Bank, is a member of the Investment Committee of McGill’s Board of Governors and President of Friends of McGill University Inc. He served as a Regional Director of the McGill Alumni Association, and is a member of the Desautels Faculty of Management Advisory Board and Global Strategy & Leadership Expert Panel.
Monica is a former physical education teacher and YMCA program coordinator, as well as a supporter of the ‘Right to Play’ organization which uses play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Monica is also a volunteer extraordinaire at schools, summer camps and especially at McGill, serving as class reunion representative for the 100th anniversary of McGill’s Kinesiology and Physical Education Program and member of the Faculty of Education Advisory Board.
Monica and Mark have also given generously to a wide range of initiatives, including a transformative gift that established the Hantho Family Fund for Business Sustainability and Environmental Management, supporting Faculty of Management activities including the Desautels Business Conference on Sustainability and the MBA club, NetImpact.
In addition to all these activities, the talented tandem (who are proud McGill parents) previously served as co-chairs of the Tri-State Region of the International Parents Council, and they have hosted many McGill events in their home, including annual Student Send-Offs.
Distinguished Service Award
Michael Nelson, BCL/LLB'82
Mike Nelson wears many hats (or helmets) in the remarkable work he does as a McGill volunteer. A former captain of the Redmen hockey team, he has been a long time champion of McGill Athletics as a member of the Athletics and Recreation Advisory Board and a Martlet Foundation trustee.
In addition, Mike works tirelessly to promote the Redmen hockey team as a fan, fundraiser, rally captain and mentor. He has been President of Friends of McGill Hockey (FMH) since 1997 raising over $500,000 for the team, as well as playing an instrumental role in realizing some significant gifts. He is also involved in helping with student recruitment.
Through FMH fundraising efforts, Mike makes sure that the athletes are well supported so they can concentrate on playing hockey and keeping up with schoolwork. He has an open door policy for every player and coach, all of whom have Mike to thank for creating a vibrant McGill community of hockey players past and present.
E.P. Taylor Award
Gregory J. David, BCL/LLB’93
In many ways, Greg David has provided a strong foundation for McGill’s success over the years through his generosity and volunteer efforts. A respected leader in Canada’s management and financial sector, Greg has dedicated his skills and talent to his alma mater most notably as Director of the Larry and Cookie Rossy Family Foundation, where he played a key role in a transformative gift which established the Rossy Cancer Network and, more recently, new gifts supporting scholarships as well as student mental health and wellness.
Through the Gregory J. David Foundation, he has volunteered his time and support to the Faculty of Law and his personal generosity established the Robert J. David Bursary in Dentistry in honour of his father, a leading Montreal dentist and member of McGill’s academic staff. There’s no question that McGill pride runs deep in the David family. Gregory’s father, Robert David, DDS’62, mother, Carol David, BA’62, and sister, Lesley David, DDS’93, are all McGill graduates.
D. Lorne Gales Special Recognition Award
Stuart H. (Kip) Cobbett, BA’69, BCL’72
A McGillian through and through, Kip Cobbett has been involved with the University almost continuously since his undergraduate days in the 1960s. Now stepping down after a seven-year term as Chair of the Board of Governors at McGill, Kip has led the University’s highest governing body with great distinction. He has previously served as Vice-Chair and member-at-large of the Board and has a long-standing relationship as a volunteer in the McGill Alumni Association, of which he served as President from 2002-03.
During McGill’s record-breaking Campaign McGill: History in the Making, Kip was a dedicated member of the executive committee and also served as Chair of the International Alma Mater Fund Council. He has sat on the Advisory Board of the McGill News alumni magazine both as member and Chair, and served as Chair of the Board of Visitors of the Faculty of Arts. He has also shared his expertise and career experience as a guest lecturer in entertainment law and as a co-lecturer in the Directors Education Program at the McGill Executive Institute in the Desautels Faculty of Management.
He is a past winner of both the MAA’s Award of Merit (2010) and Distinguished Service Award (2006).
Robert Fung International Award of Distinction
Barbara Wei-Ting Chan, BCom’77
Barbara is one of the founding members of the Martlet Foundation of Hong Kong, established in 1995 to raise funds for the University, and to this day she serves as the Foundation’s treasurer, working closely with McGill’s Hong Kong Office. She continues to help the Foundation expand its fundraising initiatives and its support for deserving Hong Kong students interested in attending McGill.
She has been an active member of the Hong Kong alumni branch throughout the years, often attending local alumni events, and she is a frequent volunteer in support of University delegates visiting Hong Kong, as well as the activities of her fellow alumni in the community. Her longstanding commitment reflects her genuine love of McGill, her dedication towards students’ well-being and her strong understanding of the challenges of fundraising on behalf of the University.
Barbara has also dedicated even more of her time as a mentor, delivering career advice on working in the accounting field, and hosting young alumni on company tours at Deloitte, where she is a partner.
Honorary Life Membership Award
Royal Govain
A consummate professional and a dedicated McGillian, Royal Govain’s commitment to building a culture of philanthropy at the University has distinguished him over the course of an illustrious career.
Since 2010, Royal has served as Managing Director, Volunteer Partnerships, in University Advancement. He was instrumental in managing volunteer efforts during Campaign McGill, and has successfully sustained that momentum through his volunteer initiatives across the organization, helping build Faculty Advisory Boards (FAB), launching and managing the Principal’s International Advisory Board and Council of FAB Chairs.
Royal’s dedication has also served McGill well during his time as Executive Director of External Affairs at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, and as the Neuro’s Chief Advancement Officer, where he led a successful campaign that raised more than $26 million for the Brain Tumour Research Centre.
Throughout his time at McGill, Royal has consistently gone above and beyond the requirements of his day job, dedicating his tremendous skill, experience and integrity to all aspects of alumni volunteer engagement, recruitment, training and recognition. He has been a leader by example in his approach and conduct, guiding, coaching and mentoring junior, as well as senior staff, Deans and other University representatives.
Catherine Nance Common President of the Year Award
Keane Yarish, BA’12
For the past two years, Keane has provided outstanding leadership in his role as President of the McGill Alumni Association of the UK. During this time, the active UK alumni community has grown significantly and the branch has hosted many sold-out events – from a successful quarterly networking event to unique fundraising ideas such as cooking classes, brewery tours, and a gourmet dinner with prominent McGill alumni held last spring.
These changes have attracted a diverse range of McGill alumni and friends, and Keane has also encouraged new alumni volunteers on the UK board to likewise take a leadership role in the organization, planning events or helping with high-profile alumni talks and faculty visits. The entire London-based McGill community has been reinvigorated, and Keane has strengthened relations with other Canadian university alumni associations in the UK.
Keane’s dedication to serving McGill alumni in the UK has earned him the respect of his fellow volunteers and McGillians, and the UK branch is recognized as a role model for other alumni groups.
Alumni Event of the Year Award
McGill24 Open-Air Pub - McGill Alumni Association of Toronto
McGill24 was McGill’s inaugural giving day, a fundraising initiative held on March 16, 2016, and regional branches were encouraged to promote McGill24 and hold in-person events. Led by Jamie Lee Rogers, BA’13 (Vice-President, Programs, McGill Alumni Association of Toronto), and a dedicated committee of volunteers, the MAA’s Toronto branch dove into the challenge wholeheartedly, organizing a hugely successful McGill24 OAP – a nod to the Open-Air Pub tradition of McGill Engineering students.
Held on the outdoor patio at Hemingway’s Pub in bustling downtown Toronto, with the McGill flag flying on a mast outside the pub for passersby to see, the event drew a crowd of more than 300 people, many decked out in McGill24 toques and gloves to show their pride in their alma mater. It became the highest attended event in the Toronto branch’s history, and enticed young alumni and more seasoned grads into making Toronto one of the dominant regions participating in the University’s first giving day, with the McGill community in the Greater Toronto Area contributing nearly $67,000 to the cause. Add in the strong social media buzz and large numbers of grads reconnecting with the MAA in Toronto, and McGill24 OAP was an unqualified success.
Charles H. Peters Alumni Group of the Year Award
Medicine Class of 1967
For many years, members of the Medicine Class of 1967 have been staying connected to their fellow graduates and their McGill roots – and supporting the University through class giving. Since marking their 10th anniversary reunion in 1977, they have come back to campus regularly, celebrating their 45th anniversary in 2012 with a packed program of reunion events. Along the way, the class has consistently demonstrated extraordinary generosity through class gifts to their alma mater.
Five years ago, class leaders decided to embark on an even more ambitious fundraising campaign to mark their 50th anniversary: $1 million in lifetime giving from members. To drum up support, volunteers have published a quarterly newsletter, profiling classmates, sharing stories and providing updates on their campaign. Their engaged fundraising committee has also ensured strong class participation: class giving stands at $900,000 as they count down to their reunion at Homecoming 2017.
Led in their reunion projects by Arnie Aberman, Peter Brueckner, Pam Chart, René Cormier, Alex Crowe, Ross de Belle, Irving Fox (Class Chair), Lily Hechtman, Daniel Klass, Anitra Mamen, Dave Miller, Sydney Price Sparling, Ken Taguchi, Harvey Weinstein and Don Williams, the Medicine Class of 1967 has proven to be one of the most dedicated alumni groups in the McGill community.
Alumni Student Engagement Award
Timothy J. Tokarsky, BSc’88
Tim Tokarsky is truly an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur and he has generously shared his expertise with countless students as a long-time judge and mentor for McGill’s Dobson Cup, as well as serving as an Advisory Board Member of the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship.
A Montreal-based angel investor, Tim has been a founder, board member, investor and operational manager at many tech start-ups, including WysDM software. His background and his passion for entrepreneurship has nurtured budding student businesses while his financial support has helped students and alumni learn the skills needed to start businesses.
Tim’s work on behalf of the Dobson Centre includes participation in workshops, speaker series and mentorships for student audiences, and he is also co-founder and Advisory Board Member of the McGill X-1 Accelerator, an intensive summer program designed to accelerate McGill start-ups towards investment readiness and launch.
Tim always makes himself available to help students at the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship and has donated thousands of hours of his time in support of McGill’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
David Johnston Faculty and Staff Award
Dr. Madhukar Pai
Dr. Madhukar Pai is the Faculty of Medicine’s Director of the McGill Global Health Programs, Associate Director of the McGill International TB Centre, and a Canada Research Chair in Translational Epidemiology and Global Health at McGill.
Madhu is very active in the McGill community and has been an enthusiastic participant in a variety of events and initiatives with the McGill Alumni Association and University Advancement. Generous with his time and demonstrably passionate about his area of research, he is always willing to share his expertise with a lay audience, he has served as a panelist for events focused on global health, including McGill’s Road to 200 event in New York in 2016, “Ebola, Zika, West Nile Virus… Are You and Your Family at Risk?” He also acted as one of the faculty faces for the McGill24 campaign last year, McGill’s inaugural day of giving which raised nearly $800,000 for the University.
Madhu’s research is mainly focused on improving the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, especially in high-burden countries like India and South Africa. He is a consultant to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a member of the Royal Society of Canada.
James G. Wright Award
Sarah Nematallah, GrDipMusic’10
Inspired by music and dedicated to making a difference in her community, Sarah Nematallah developed an accessible, interactive concert series for individuals with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and their families.
A graduate of McGill’s Schulich School of Music and founding member of the award-winning Cecilia String Quartet, Sarah worked with autism experts and health professionals at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children to create the concert series specifically for autism spectrum music lovers who are unable to attend traditional concerts and, as a result, are often excluded from such community events. Sarah, an accomplished violinist, took pains to ensure that all aspects of her quartet’s concerts were appropriate for the audience from music selections to lighting and staging. Children and their families were able to take in the show by sitting in their seats, lying on the floor, standing afar or dancing.
The resulting concert series was launched last year at Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and was enthusiastically received by attendees and praised by local media, including the Toronto Star. Now in its second season, Sarah’s musical venture has definitely captured the best of her musical talent and her community spirit, and struck a chord with appreciative audiences.
Gretta Chambers Student Leadership Award
Nicolas Chatel-Launay, BSc(AgEnvSc)’14
Nicolas Chatel-Launay has been a prominent student leader at McGill’s Macdonald Campus since 2010. He has worked tirelessly to revitalize the Macdonald Campus Students’ Society and the Macdonald Campus Graduate Students’ Society and increase student participation on University committees. He has also served on the McGill Senate and been active with Rainbow Mac, the University Advancement Office in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and numerous student- and alumni-related committees, including the Counselling Services Advisory Board.
Nowhere is Nicolas’s dedication to his University more in evidence than with Mac’s loyal and tight-knit community of alumni. A steadfast volunteer at Convocation and at annual Homecoming festivities, Nicolas conducts alumni tours, helps run various events, and attends lunches and dinners as a special guest of the dean.
Nicolas, who works with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute as part of his postgraduate studies, has been invited to participate in the Desautels Faculty of Management’s Hot Cities of the World Tour.
Gretta Chambers Student Leadership Award
Ryan Golt, BA’16 & MEd (in progress)
Ryan Golt knows what it’s like to battle depression, and he has taken action to help other McGill students cope with what was once a taboo topic.
In April 2016 he and a team of students organized a three-day event, Stronger than Stigma: McGill Students for Mental Health, with presentations and hands-on workshops aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues, and addressing the stigma that often surrounds them. Participants learned better care for their mental health, through healthy eating, regular exercise, and relaxation activities such as yoga and meditation.
Ryan’s keen desire to help others suffering from mental health issues extends beyond McGill. He currently works as an Integration Aide at the Lester B. Pearson School Board with students who have learning disabilities, and social and emotional challenges. He is also a speaker and peer educator for the StressOFF program, which gives presentations on stress management strategies to students at various Montreal high schools.
A two-time recipient of funding for the Stronger than Stigma initiative from the McGill Alumni Association’s Student Sponsorship Program, Ryan was a finalist for the 2016 Red & White Community Impact Awards.
Gretta Chambers Student Leadership Award
Pauline Kress, BEng’17
When it comes to raising much-needed funds for McGill, it would be hard to find a more passionate and committed student champion than Pauline Kress.
As an ambassador for University Advancement’s crowd-funding website, Seeds of Change, Pauline spearheaded an online campaign that raised more than $8,000 for McGill Formula Electric, an engineering design team involved in building a 100% electric race car to compete against universities from around the world.
In 2016, Pauline was one of the students profiled for McGill24, the University’s first annual giving day. In her video testimonial, Pauline spoke eloquently about how important it is to support the University. Her enthusiasatic endorsement of philanthropy helped encourage others, including many of her fellow students, to contribute to the campaign.
A member of the Engineering Undergraduate Society, Pauline serves as a representative for all 10 student design teams. She advocates for increased funding for extra-curricular opportunities, handles external communications for the teams, and leads workshops for students.
Gretta Chambers Student Leadership Award
Angela Yu, BSc’15, MSc’17
For Angela Yu, one of McGill’s most recent recipients of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, the pursuit of her academic goals goes hand-in-hand with a commitment to social justice.
As Equity and Diversity Commissioner for McGill’s Post-Graduate Students’ Society, Angela collaborated with students and campus organizations to enhance resources and opportunities that are made available to students of diverse backgrounds, identities and experiences. She also played a leading role on the student working group that helped to develop McGill’s sexual violence policy.
While pursuing a double major in Biology and Women’s Studies, Angela developed a keen interest in how researchers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine) can become more engaged in social issues. At Oxford, where she will pursue an MPhil in the History of Science, Medicine and Technology, she plans on continuing to explore this topic, by examining how social values influence the development of STEM disciplines.
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