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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Abygail Montague
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2021
Western University
St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School
Hamilton,
Ontario

Amar Farkouh
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2020
Université de Montréal
Cégep de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke,
Quebec

Amelia Spacek
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2021
University of Ottawa
École secondaire Notre-Dame-du-Sault
Aweres Twp,
Ontario

Anna Irwin
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2022
Mount Allison University
Quluaq School
Clyde River,
Nunavut

Ava Fitzgerald
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2022
University of Waterloo
Goderich District Collegiate Institute
Goderich,
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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Camille Maltais
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2020
Université de Montréal
Cégep de Granby
Granby,
Quebec

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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Chidiebere Okarah
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2021
McGill University
École Panorama Ridge Secondary School
Surrey,
British Columbia

Émilia Gagné
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2022
McGill University
Collège Lionel-Groulx
Saint-Rémi,
Quebec

Emma Harris
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2021
University of British Columbia
Miles Macdonell Collegiate
Winnipeg,
Manitoba

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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Giovanni Ferraresso
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2020
University of British Columbia
Byrne Creek Secondary School
Burnaby,
British Columbia

Govind Deol
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2020
University of British Columbia
L.A. Matheson Secondary School
Surrey,
British Columbia

Kai Chow
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2022
McGill University
W.J. Mouat Secondary School
Abbotsford,
British Columbia

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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Kayleigh Bowes
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2022
Queen's University
Citadel High School
Halifax,
Nova Scotia

Kylee Smith
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2020
University of British Columbia
Stamford Collegiate
Niagara Falls,
Ontario

Laurence Breton
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2021
McGill University
Cégep de Lévis-Lauzon
Saint-Léon de Standon,
Québec
Photo credit: Lee Atherton.