Spotlight on our Volunteers

Neil Baker, BSc’69

Neil skiing in the Masters' ski program at Chanteclair, QC, in 1987.

When Neil Baker arrived at McGill in 1965, it was all downhill – skiing, that is.

A member of McGill’s alpine ski racing team, Neil was the Quebec provincial alpine ski champion in 1967 and he won the Canadian collegiate championship in Banff in 1968.

“McGill opened doors for me and, like a lot of us, it definitely helped me get where I am today,” says Neil, now President of Fabrictime Solutions, his textile wholesale firm based in Vancouver where he has lived for many years. “And I learned how to ski at McGill!”

A dedicated McGill volunteer, Neil has now endowed the University’s first alpine skiing award. The Neil Baker Alpine Skiing Award will support student-athletes who qualify as members of the McGill Alpine Skiing Team. Matched at $50,000 by the Martlet Foundation, Neil’s generous gift will also provide essential program support.

“I inherited some money recently and I was really glad to be able to help McGill out, especially the ski team” says Neil. A loyal annual donor, Neil has given to McGill Athletics since 1972.

Neil has also been devoting a lot of his spare time to the cause. As a member of the Vancouver International Alma Mater Fund Council, Neil phones McGill graduates who were on ski team. “It’s not easy asking for money,” he admits. “Everyone wants to give locally.” He likes re-connecting with fellow alumni and re-introducing them to McGill and the value of its mission.

Born and raised in Quebec, Neil has two brothers who are also McGill graduates. Still active as a skier as well as a golfer, he particularly enjoys attending Vancouver alumni events such as the Leacock Luncheon, where he was a head table guest this April 29.

“Everything McGill does is first class. They put on a good show!”

-Allyson Rowley, BA’77