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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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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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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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
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
Mariam Sabbah
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2018
McGill University
École secondaire catholique L'Escale
Clarence-Rockland,
Ontario
Mostafa Bondok
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2018
University of British Columbia
Bell High School
Ottawa,
Ontario
Nika Asgari
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2018
University of Toronto
Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School
Vancouver,
British Columbia
Rayene Bouzitoun
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2018
University of Ottawa
Collège de Maisonneuve
Montréal,
Québec
Ryan Brown
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
Owen Sound District Secondary School
Owen Sound,
Ontario
Ryan organized his small town's first pride parade and is the chair of the committee to run it again. He serves as the Ontario Student Trustees' Association's Public Board President and as a student trustee for the Bluewater District School Board. He is actively involved with his community theatre and loves to perform in musicals.
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Sila Rogan
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2017
University of British Columbia
École Secondaire Kelvin High School
Winnipeg,
Manitoba
Sila leads the environmental club and ran activities to encourage recycling. She serves on a youth advisory council for community grants, writes for the school newspaper and helped organize the Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Awards. Sila also volunteered with a research lab for two years and works part-time. She is a member of the school cross-country team.
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Zoe McDaniel
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2018
University of British Columbia
Dalbrae Academy
Brook Village,
Nova Scotia
Photo credit: Lee Atherton.