Alumni Communities

There are many unique opportunities for our students provided by the Macdonald Advancement Team throughout the academic year. Our office sponsors programs, events, seminars/workshops and leadership opportunities that take part outside the classroom which will be of benefit to you the student before becoming alumni yourself. The McGill Alumni Association also has programming for our students, so to find out more please visit the Alumni Online Community.

In conjunction with the Freshman Program Student Success Series, we organize seminars to enhance the student experience, or life skills, such as – Leadership Development, Cooking Class/Demonstrations, Campus Excursions, Student Engagement Opportunities.

Collaborating with CaPS (Career and Placement Services) we plan round table discussions between students and alumni. These unique events provide face to face opportunities for our students to speak with young and mid-career alumni about their job experiences after graduation. We are always looking for alumni to share their stories and participating in mentoring events – consider connecting with anna.duff [at] mcgill.ca (Anna Duff).

Under the mentorship of Anna Duff and the Advancement Team, students are invited to join this dynamic group. As a member of MSOAR, the students act as ambassadors for the Faculty, participate in special targeted events, such as Orientation, Homecoming, Student Engagement and Philanthropy Day, and promote the Macdonald/McGill spirit or pride. MSOAR’s slogan is – Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow.

The Macdonald Advancement Team hosts special events for our graduating students. These events are tailored to upper year students through a variety of workshops, informational fairs, or mentoring panel presentations in collaboration with Career Planning Services or CaPS. With over 200,000 McGill graduates worldwide our mission is to open the discussion between students and alumni.

April 2020 - Local donor rallies community to raise awareness after prostate cancer diagnosis

Years ago Tom Clapp, BScAgr'65, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and is finally cancer free. He established a local Awareness group in his area to support the Ottawa Hospital Foundation, raising close to $200,000 so far. This month, the Ottawa Hospital featured his story in their newsletter which Tom is now sharing with fellow alumni. Three years ago Tom worked with the OH Foundation for a fund raiser for colon cancer on behalf of Bryan Murray, and is continuing to promote cancer awareness. (Click the link above to read Tom's story)

December 2019 - Don Cameron named Distinguished Alumnus by Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture (formerly NSAC)

Stephen Casselman, Harold Cook, Don Cameron, George Archibald (all Mac Class of ’68), and Don Gunn (Mac Class of ’69). Don Cameron was awarded the distinguished Alumni Award by the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture (formerly NSAC) on Oct. 18th, 2019.

Trying to subtly talk his then girlfriend, whom he met while finishing his degree at McGill University, into coming to his home province of Nova Scotia – Donald Cameron explained it was a beautiful place to live and raise a family and that he wanted to build a farming business. He also admitted we could do better here and that someday, he was going to be part of a government to make those changes for NS.

Not only did he sell that proposition to his wife of now over 50 years, but he built, owned and managed one of the biggest farm operations in NS before fueling the biggest desire burning within – and made change.

When first elected to the Nova Scotia Legislature in 1974, Don was appointed Minister of Recreation. Elected six more times, he also served as Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Industry and served as Chairman of the Legislature’s Free Trade Committee before becoming Premier of Nova Scotia in 1991.

Among many of the changes he helped make, a highlight for Don included the first day he sat in the legislature as premier, his government introduced Human Rights legislation, which included equal rights for gays and lesbians, making NS one of the first places in North America to do so.

Even though this was a moment of pride for Don, he’s certainly not one to brag. He admits he is very humble and always said he wanted the job, not the title. And when asked about his career, his quick response is simple – he’s a farmer.

Humble, kind, passionate about agriculture and making a difference, there’s no question that Don Cameron is a very deserving recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2019.

June 3, 2018

Members of the Class of '61 tour campus

Several members of the class of '61 toured the "old" buildings on campus with student guide Césarée Morier-Gxoyiya.

May 2018

And the MAA Award goes to...BSc(Agr) and BSc(HEc)'68

Charles H. Peters Alumni Group of the Year Award

For McGill’s Macdonald Campus, 1968 was a very good year.

The Bachelor of Science (Agriculture and Home Economics) Class of 1968 has maintained close ties to its alma mater over 47 years, staying in touch, getting together for class reunions every five years, celebrating the milestones of graduates and paying tribute to the legacy of class members.

One of the secrets of their success is class member Stephen Casselman, BSc(Agr)’68, part communications coordinator, part field representative, part ambassador and part reunion promoter. Wherever he travels, Stephen visits local classmates from Vancouver to Newfoundland. He suggested the idea of creating memorial books to circulate at reunions as tributes to class members who have passed away and each year class members receive a newsletter, which details events in the lives of classmates throughout the years.

Classmates refer to Stephen as an alumnus extraordinaire and his achievement is reflected in a close-knit, McGill-proud class that is still going strong and looking ahead to their 50th anniversary year.

February 2018

Roger Buckland was featured in an article in the Bridge Bulletin (publication of the American Contract Bridge League)

Click here to view a larger version of the article.

December 2017

Jim, BScAgr'79, and Nancy Wert are featured in the Dairy Farmers of Canada book “Deeply Rooted for the Future,” which features a progressive dairy farm in each province. The book was put together in celebration of Canada’s 150. Page 16 of the document highlights the Ontario province and Stanlee Farm in Avonmore. Their son, Chris, graduated in 2017 from the FMT program.

Class of '74: Alum James Bergeron shared news of an award that he received an award from Air Canada. Watch video.

Charlie Barnes, BScAgr’61, has been competing in triathlons for many years. He competed in the World Triathlon Championships held in Rotterdam Netherlands and won a bronze medal in his age group (80 to 84)!

Read more...

June 2017

During a ceremony held in Ottawa (Ontario) on 15 June 2017, Charles Vincent, MSc’80, PhD’83, was presented a Gold Harvest Award for Exceptional Career by Deputy Minister Chris Forbes on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. He is a research scientist (entomology) at the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Pictured, from L to R: Chris Forbes (Deputy Minister, AAFC); Michèle Marcotte (Director of Research, Development and Technology, AAC- Ottawa), Charles Vincent (Scientist, AAC/Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, awardee); Ted Huffman (Scientist, AAC/Ottawa- awardee); Gilles Saindon (Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, AAFC).

Due to the cancellation of on-campus Homecoming 2020 for ongoing health and safety concerns, nominations are deferred until Homecoming 2021.

Nomination form - Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni Awards

For the 2019 Recipients - click here

General Information:

The Macdonald Branch of the McGill Alumni Association will honour distinguished graduates each year at the Sir William Macdonald Luncheon at Homecoming. It is the purpose of these awards to recognize distinguished graduates of Macdonald who have made outstanding professional and community contributions, and to society in general.

By creating the Macdonald Distinguished Alumni Award and the Distinguished Young Alumni Award, the Macdonald Branch of the McGill Alumni Association recognizes those graduates whose accomplishments are of such excellence that they provide inspiration and leadership. In selecting candidates, the Branch will attempt to choose individuals of such a caliber that in honouring them, it too is honoured. The Selection Committee will attempt, through its recommendations of nominees, to reflect the cultural diversity of Macdonald alumni and the international character of the University.

Eligibility:

Nominees must be in receipt of a degree from one of the programs offered at the Macdonald Campus. The award will not be bestowed posthumously or in absentia.

Nominations will be valid for five (5) years only. If the nominator wishes the nomination to be reviewed again following this 5-year period, a new nomination must be submitted. Self-nominations are not accepted. To be eligible for the Distinguished Young Alumni Award, nominees must have graduated from Macdonald within the last ten (10) years.

Criteria:

The most important factors considered by the Committee in its deliberations are: outstanding and continued commitment to Macdonald, outstanding professional accomplishments, scholarly distinction, and service to the community at large. Evidence of the nominee’s demonstration of Mastery for Service through the pursuit of excellence in support of service to society, humanity and the world must be included.

Procedures:

The Selection Committee shall meet each year to review nominations for the awarding of the Awards at the following Macdonald Homecoming. A call for nominations for the Award shall be placed in the alumni newsletter (print or e-newsletter), on this website, and on our Facebook page.

Deadlines:

The deadline for submission of nominations shall also be posted in the alumni newsletter or e-newsletter, as well as the website in order to ensure the widest circulation. Deadlines for submission should be respected. Materials must be received by the Dean’s Office no later than June 30th of each year.

Nominations:

Selection will be based on materials submitted by a nominator. The nominator is responsible for submitting all required material to the Macdonald Distinguished Alumni Award Committee via the Dean’s office.

Nominations should include the following information: name and address of nominee; career summary; education; awards received; reasons for recommending nominee. Supporting documentation may be attached (e.g., curriculum vitae, news clippings).

Photos will be requested from nominees selected for recognition.

For all inquiries, contact the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Dean’s Office, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9 or by telephone at 514-398-7707, by fax at 514-398-7766 or by email dean.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca; if, for any reason, the nomination is to be withdrawn, please inform the Dean’s Office.

Nomination form - Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni Awards

A special connection

The Macdonald Branch of the McGill Alumni Association enables Mac alumni to maintain our unique bond with the University and each other. The branch has approximately 11,000 members worldwide.

Throughout the year, branch members assist campus committees, support McGill activities, and recognize students with awards, scholarships and bursaries. We also participate in Orientation in September, Homecoming in October, Founder's Day in February, as well as in smaller and more intimate local and regional events.

Please visit the McGill Alumni online network.

Everyone's welcome

Membership in the branch is open to any holder of a degree, diploma or certificate earned at Macdonald Campus (formerly known as Macdonald College), and to students who have successfully completed one academic year at Macdonald Campus.