Past Recipients

Physician Paul Lem is the co-founder and CEO of Spartan Bioscience Inc., a company that develops, manufactures, and markets DNA testing systems for on-demand applications. He was named one of Ottawa’s 40 Under 40 (2015), and he was recognized with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers of Ottawa’s 2016 Outstanding High Technology Company Recognition Award. His company quickly jumped into action in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to create a portable, rapid test kit that will produce results in under an hour, which will particularly benefit rural and Indigenous communities.

Robin Mednick is the president and co-founder of Pencils for Kids (P4K), an organization helping children in Niger, West Africa, attend school. In 15 years, P4K has built three schools, a library, a sewing centre for girls, 14 kindergartens, sponsored more than 500 scholarships for girls, and created 10 income-generating gardens for women. Mednick holds a master’s in politics and economics from Oxford University and a law degree from Osgoode Hall. She has also been extensively involved in amateur sport, including roles at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and Melbourne. For her achievements in Niger, she received the Meritorious Service Medal (2018) from the Governor-General of Canada.

Alvin Rakoff is a celebrated television, film, and stage director. Now in his 90s and still working, in the last 68 years he has directed some of the world's leading actors, from Laurence Olivier to Sean Connery. He won an Emmy Award for Call Me Daddy (1967) and A Voyage Round My Father (1983) and is credited with launching the career of the late Alan Rickman.

Peter Slan is vice-chair of The Bank of Nova Scotia and head of the bank’s global strategic client group. In his more than 22 years with Scotiabank, he has served in a wide variety of roles and has made significant contributions to the bank’s success. He is active in the community and has served on the boards of the Baycrest Foundation, the Rotman School of Management, and the United Jewish Appeal's Bay Street Cabinet, among others. He received the IR Magazine award for Best Investor Relations During a Corporate Transaction for Scotiabank’s $3.2 billion acquisition of DundeeWealth.

Catherine Tait completed an undergraduate degree in literature and philosophy, following the encouragement of the UC registrar at the time who suggested she switch from science to liberal arts. She went on to complete post-graduate degrees in communications studies at Boston University and the University of Paris. She has taken on many leadership roles in media and film, including at Telefilm Canada, Hollywood Suite, iThentic, and Duopoly, which she co-founded. She was previously the president and COO of Salter Street Films and in 2018 was appointed president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada. She has reinvigorated the public broadcaster on several fronts, including digital transformation, and in 2019 was named Playback’s Executive of the Year.

Jeff Wrana is a renowned cancer researcher and senior investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. He was awarded the McLaughlin Medal by the Royal Society of Canada (2018) in recognition of "his pivotal contributions to our understanding of biology, human disease, and its treatment." He and his team also recently discovered a new type of intestinal stem cell that may lead to a better understanding of and treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. John Barrett’s career has spanned the federal public service, international organizations, think-tanks, universities, and the nuclear industry, with a focus on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. He is a former president and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association, former board chair of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and past president of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. He is currently the Vice-President, Strategy and Government Relations, Westinghouse Electric Canada.

Laleh Bighash is the President and Dean of Scientific Affairs at the Academy of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, a private, post-graduate college for new immigrants that she launched in 2003. The school has placed more than 2000 graduates from its two campuses in positions in the food and pharmaceutical industry. She graduated with a BSc from University College while being a mother, wife, and full-time student, and later completed an MBA at the Schulich School of Business at York University.

As a former Ontario Superior Court judge, visiting professor, lawyer, mentor, and adjudicator, Sandra Chapnik’s contributions to the legal system and broader community reflect her special interest in women’s and human rights, and access to justice and education. A member of the Order of Ontario and recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, she has also been honoured by the Canadian Bar Association, Women’s Law Association of Ontario, Osgoode Hall Law School, and several charities.

Miriam Clavir is Senior Conservator Emerita and Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology. She has made outstanding contributions to the field of heritage conservation in Canada, particularly with respect to the care of Indigenous belongings, challenging the profession to rethink standards which prioritize the preservation of physical objects over less tangible cultural and spiritual elements. She was awarded the Canadian Association of Conservation’s Mervyn Ruggles Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2009.

Rebecca Duclos is Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and a Professor in the Department of Art History at Concordia University.  In the cultural sector, she held key roles at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Design Exchange, Textile Museum of Canada, and the Manchester Museum. She serves on the board of the Montreal Biennial and was Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts. 

Over her long career, Deborah Gold has worked to improve the lives of people with disabilities, with the last 20 years devoted to those who are blind or visually impaired. She is the former director of research and program development for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, and a past editor of a journal dedicated to research and practice in the field. She has presented her research findings at major conferences and has been an active collaborator in studies and research networks. She is the Executive Director of BALANCE for Blind Adults, which provides technology training, help with life skills, and community support.