There are common threads weaving their way through the life story of Nancy M. Siew, MSW’88: her Chinese heritage, her Canadian experience, and her McGill pride.
“My experience has spanned many cultures,” says Siew, “and McGill has done so much good in the multicultural community.”
Raised in British Hong Kong, Siew immigrated to Canada with her family as an adult. “My children just loved Canada – we felt very much at home.” They settled in Ontario, where Siew earned an undergraduate degree in social work at the University of Windsor.
Her parents encouraged her to build ties in Canada’s Chinese community, leading her to connect with family friend Willie Woo, a former McGill student-athlete who went on to represent China’s basketball team at five Olympics. “He was like an uncle to me, and he often spoke of McGill. He thought very highly of the University and encouraged me to apply.”
She would earn a graduate fellowship and complete her Master of Social Work at McGill, “and my experience was top notch. I was offered fellowships from other universities, but I’m glad I chose McGill.” Siew specialized in gerontology, the study of aging. “I volunteered with the elderly in Montreal’s Chinatown, working to ensure seniors were not isolated. Before I even finished my thesis, I was receiving job offers – the McGill name opened a lot of doors for me.”
It was a great honour to receive a fellowship from McGill, and I wanted to give back.”
Siew was recruited by the government of Canada’s Veteran Affairs department, working in human resources and the diplomatic corps, and then serving on the Senate and as Hon. Lt-Col. of the Military Police Academy. Now retired from public service, she also served as a citizenship judge; supported fellow McGill alumnae The Hon. Vivienne Poy, BA’62, LLD’11, to establish and promote Asian Heritage Month in Canada; and received multiple Queen’s Jubilee Medals for her community service. And Siew is not done yet; she’s currently helping to organize a travelling photography exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of Canada’s Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned most forms of Chinese immigration for nearly 25 years. “The purpose is to encourage all Canadians to look forward and work together to make Canada the most harmonious, inclusive and diverse country in the world.”
She also remains active with McGill. “The University was so good to me,” says Siew, which is why she’s joined McGill’s 1821 Society and left a bequest in her will to McGill. Her gift will establish and endow the Citizenship Judge Nancy M. Siew Scholarship, and support graduates in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
“It was a great honour to receive a fellowship from McGill, and I wanted to give back – I want to encourage young scholars and let them know their hard work is so appreciated. I can’t take my money with me, but I can leave something to help others.”
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