Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Macdonald Distinguished Alumni Award was created by the Macdonald Branch of the McGill Alumni Association to recognize distinguished graduates for their outstanding professional contributions, scholarly distinction and/or service to the community at large. The first Awards were presented at Homecoming 2006 and are awarded at Homecoming every year.

In 2009, we were pleased to introduce the Macdonald Distinguished Young Alumni Award, which recognizes the achievements and contributions of our younger alumni.

2022 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

Luce Daigneault BScAgr’82, MSc’85

Luce Daigneault has been the Executive Director of Québec Vert since 2003 (formerly FIHOQ). Québec Vert represents and promotes the Quebec Ornamental Horticulture (OH) Industry in order to ensure its sustainable growth. Québec Vert is the point of reference for government, media and the public regarding the OH Industry. Throughout her career, Luce has been involved in the establishment of several organizations servicing and developing the ornamental industry, such as:

• Les Fleurons du Québec;
• La Table filière de l’horticulture ornementale du Québec Inc.;
• La Chaire de leadership en enseignement sur les infrastructures végétalisées – Jean Tremblay de l'Université Laval;
• the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance (COHA)

She is also actively involved on several Boards of Directors and Committees of industry organizations both at the provincial and federal levels. These include COHA, HortiCompétences, la Table filière de l’horticulture ornementale and Les Fleurons du Québec. She has also been co-chair of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada's Horticultural Value Chain Round Table, as well as the chair of Labour, Research and Ornamental Working Groups.

Previously, Luce played a significant role in the establishment of the Institut québécois du développement de l’horticulture ornementale (IQDHO), which she directed for 14 years. Prior to this, she was Deputy Managing Director of Pépinière Auclair et Frères, and Manager of the Plant Department of Ball Superior Ltd.

Luce has an MSc and a BSc in agronomy, with a major in Plant Science from Macdonald College of McGill University and was a lecturer in Plant Science at Macdonald College.

Gibson (Gib) Patterson BScAgr’60

Gib was born at Billings Bridge RR#1 in Gloucester Township Ontario, which now is known as a number on Hunt Club Road, in the same room where his father was born 38 years earlier. After finishing grades in Hopewell Public School in Ottawa, he attended Ottawa Technical High School in downtown Ottawa and then enrolled at Macdonald College in General Agriculture to learn the science of farming and agriculture.

He graduated in 1960 and started his new job as "Assistant AG Rep" in Hastings County in charge of the Junior Educational work of 4-H and Junior Farmers on May 1 of that year. In 1962 he married Elsie Martin, and together they bought a 100 acre farm near Metcalfe Ontario, 13 miles south of Home Farm, where he grew up.

Gib started teaching at Osgoode Township High School in 1963 and did that for nine years while farming and doing some real estate accumulation (in his spare time).

The opportunity to purchase some land presented itself in 1971 which was the start of the golf business. He installed a golf driving range, mini golf, and dairy bar on Hunt Club Road Home Farm, near Ottawa airport and the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club. Developing land for golf courses spoke to his science background – to grow green grass led to “Go Green, Go Golfing” theme all while still planting 600 acres in soybeans, wheat and hay.

Gib’s lasting legacy is his tireless contribution to community work in agriculture, from teaching 4-H youth about leadership and tillage conservation to hosting regional and international plowing matches. As well, he volunteered with countless organizations, often in a leadership position.

The three Patterson golf courses built by Gib and his family, host many functions that contribute to local community charities, such as the Ottawa Hospital, the Bob Pugh Golf Classic, raising monies for 4 scholarships at Macdonald, and the legacy golf tournament “Plowing for a Cure” which raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. Gib’s contributions have earned him numerous awards - the Order of Ottawa and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal among many others.

With Elsie and 4 very helpful children, the rest is history, a story he is always happy to tell!

2022 Distinguished Young Alumni Award Recipients

Isabelle Lam BSc(NutrSc)’19

Isabelle is a 2019 Macdonald Campus Alum, a registered dietitian and co-founder of Remix Snacks. While completing her bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences and dietetics back in 2018, she partnered with Jamie Lee to start Remix Snacks - a start-up that creates healthy, bean-based snacks with upcycled ingredients to reduce food waste. Their snacks are now being sold online and in over 380 retail locations across Canada.

She’s been a recipient of the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program and Visa She’s Next Grant Program. She has been featured in the Globe & Mail and by the Women of Influence.

Isabelle continues practicing as a dietitian in her virtual private practice, working with clients on their nutritional journey. When she’s not building Remix or consulting clients, Isabelle can be found training for her next marathon or triathlon.

Jamie Lee BSc(NutrSc)’19

Jamie completed her bachelor's in Dietetics and accreditation at McGill University and stayed in Montreal to join the Quebec Order of Dietitians. She practices as a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorder recovery and runs Remix Snacks.

She co-founded the start-up with her partner Isabelle Lam in 2018. She fell in love with the entrepreneurship community and food industry, motivating her to pitch at the McGill Dobson Cup competition and compete in Dragon's Den. Their products are available online and in over 380 retail locations across Canada.

Jamie is exceptionally grateful for the support and encouragement she received, and continues to receive, at McGill and Macdonald Campus, where her professors and peers first inspired her to make her own path as a dietitian, pairing her work in clinical nutrition with the food and snack industry.