From volunteering for Welcome Week to leading the McGill Students’ Society, John McCall MacBain’s undergraduate experience was a formative one. “It laid the foundation for my studies at Oxford and Harvard, and for my entrepreneurial career.”
Mr. McCall MacBain and his wife, Marcy, established the McCall MacBain Foundation in 2007 to improve the welfare of humanity through focused grants in education, health and the environment. To invest in promising young Canadians at a formative stage in their lives, they underwrote five McCall MacBain Loran Awards in 2014 and announced an additional $1.2 million donation in 2015. Most recently in 2017, the McCall MacBain Foundation made a commitment to support Loran with a transformational gift in annual and matching grants over the next 10 years.
This year’s McCall MacBain Loran Scholars are Lily Bateman (Canning, NS), Cheyenne Brown (Vernon, BC), Sila Rogan (Winnipeg, MB), Ford Smith (Victoria, BC) and Finley Wheeler (Morden, MB).
“We need strong, dedicated and creative leadership to achieve positive outcomes. As Loran Scholars, young Canadians have the opportunity to learn, take meaningful risks and determine how they can best contribute to society.”
Having volunteered as a national interviewer in 2014, Mr. McCall MacBain appreciates the holistic approach to selecting scholars. “By looking at their character, willingness to learn from failure and genuine aspirations, we are able to discover young people with tremendous potential for a life of leadership and service.”
Recognizing the influence teachers had on his own life, Mr. McCall MacBain also helped to create the Loran Teachers Building Leaders Awards. This award series, now in its third year, allows graduating Loran Scholars to thank the primary and secondary school teachers who provided them with early inspiration and growth opportunities.
For his achievements as a business leader and for his contributions to academic institutions as a philanthropist, Mr. McCall MacBain was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2016. He is also the recipient of honorary degrees from a number of Canadian universities.
McCall MacBain Loran Scholars
Abnash Bassi
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Toronto
Seaquam Secondary School
Delta,
British Columbia
Abnash is co-president of her school’s environmental club, organizing workshops at local elementary schools and community campaigns. She is co-president of her school’s debate and model UN club and a Climate Action Fellow with Be the Change Earth Alliance. Abnash participates in VEX robotics, is a member of MP Carla Qualtrough’s Constituency Youth Council, and coaches basketball.
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Annaliese Loeppky
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2015
Ryerson University
Garden Valley Collegiate
Morden,
Manitoba
Anthony Hope
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2015
University of Toronto
Johnston Heights Secondary School
Surrey,
British Columbia
Athavarn Srikantharajah
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2016
University of Ottawa
R.H. King Academy
Ajax,
Ontario
Béatrice Allard
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Ottawa
Cégep de Saint-Laurent
Montréal,
Quebec
Béatrice hosts a podcast promoting conversations between youth and leaders. She launched a campaign against rape culture that is now airing in several Cegeps. She sings and plays piano and trombone. As a youth consultant, Béatrice is involved with the Canadian Cancer Society and the Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui. She works as a swimming instructor at YMCA and is a member of the board of directors at her local Caisse Desjardins.
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Calder Schweitzer
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2015
University of Guelph
Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Fenelon Falls,
Ontario
Callista Ryan
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2016
Western University
Howe Sound Secondary School
Squamish,
British Columbia
Cheyenne Brown
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2017
Queen's University
Kalamalka Secondary School
Vernon,
British Columbia
Chidi Umenwofor-Nweze
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Waterloo
The Mahindra United World College of India
Paud, India,
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Chidinma is co-captain of her robotics team. She assists in a computer literacy program in a village near her school. She was a chorister and recently portrayed Alexander Hamilton in a student-led production of "Hamilton". She has undertaken infrastructural projects, such as a bus shelter and pediatric unit, within the Government of Nunavut.
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Émélie Gagnon
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2016
Queen's University
Polyvalente Thomas-Albert
DSL de Grand-Sault,
New Brunswick
Esha Mahmood
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
University of British Columbia
Banting Memorial High School
New Tecumseth,
Ontario
Esha is the student council president, organizer for Black History club, and founder of her school's Jack.org chapter – a youth mental wellness organization. She aids students in the transition to high school and helps young people to develop their leadership skills through her involvement with Count Me In Summit. She volunteers with Me to We and travelled to Kenya to build a school.
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Finley Wheeler
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2017
University of British Columbia
Morden Collegiate
Morden,
Manitoba
Finley is a Level III certified hockey referee and captain of the school hockey team. He led a team to win the provincial street hockey tournament and also captains the school soccer team. Finley sings and acts as the student supervisor for the Central Manitoba Youth Choir. He volunteers with the town's corn and apple festival and teaches swimming during the summer.
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Ford Smith
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2017
University of British Columbia
Claremont Secondary School
Victoria,
British Columbia
Gracie Lowes
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2016
McGill University
Ridley College
Fonthill,
Ontario
Joanne Banh
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2015
University of Toronto
Maple Ridge Secondary School
Maple Ridge,
British Columbia
John Milkovich
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2018
McMaster University
Mayfield Secondary School
Caledon,
Ontario
Kailyn Hanke
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
Dalhousie University
Neepawa Area Collegiate
Neepawa ,
Manitoba
Kailyn is student council co-president and co-captain of her soccer team. She is also involved with her school division’s student advisory group, peer mentors, senior band, drama, and garden club. Kailyn enjoys volunteering her time leading her school’s social justice group, coaching volleyball, tutoring, and clerking at horticultural shows. Kailyn recently worked as a library program coordinator and museum attendant.
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Léa Papillon
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2018
McGill University
École secondaire publique De La Salle
Ottawa,
Ontario
Leon Picha
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
Matthew McNair Secondary School
Richmond,
British Columbia
Lily Bateman
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2017
University of Toronto
Northeast Kings Education Centre
Canning,
Nova Scotia
Photo credit: Lee Atherton.