The spotlight shone on alumni excellence during special back-to-back ceremonies in Montreal and Toronto this month as the McGill Alumni Association’s annual awards banquets made in-person comebacks after two years of online tributes due to the pandemic.
The McGill Alumni Association Honours and Awards banquet kicked off the festivities on June 7 at Le Windsor Ballrooms in downtown Montreal. Sixteen global honourees were celebrated for their impressive contributions and achievements in service to McGill, the McGill Alumni Association (MAA) and in their respective communities. On June 8, the McGill Toronto Excellence Awards honoured four stellar McGillians from the GTA at Arcadian Court. There was much to celebrate at both banquets, including the start of McGill’s third century.
Anita M. Brown-Johnson, MDCM’88, MedResident’90, an innovative health care leader, Chief of Family Medicine at the MUHC and assistant professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, was presented with the David Johnston Faculty and Staff Award. A geriatrician, Dr. Brown-Johnson is also a passionate volunteer who mentors students. She was instrumental in developing the new McGill Black Candidate Pathway, which will support the Black medical student experience at McGill from application to graduation.
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier, who is stepping down in August after nearly a decade in the position, made appearances at both events. The MAA Honours and Awards banquet in Montreal featured a special tribute to her, and she was visibly moved by the homage and standing ovation.
Both banquets also highlighted the 2020 and 2021 award winners who had been honoured virtually due to the pandemic.
View the MAA Honours and Awards recipients from 2020 and 2021.
View the McGill Toronto Excellence Awards winners from 2020 and 2021.
Check out the photos from the MAA Honours and Awards banquet and the McGill Toronto Excellence Awards