In northern England, off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness, there is a place called Walney Island. These days it’s where they build nuclear submarines, but it’s also where my father emigrated from to come to Canada. He was the first in his family to attend university and he was prolific, earning his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Sheffield.
In 1957, Dad moved to Montreal, spent half his savings on a winter coat, and got straight to work. He found a foothold in the academic community and participated in interesting, important research like the first serious trials into L-DOPA, a drug for Parkinson's disease. He met and married my French Canadian mother (despite neither of them speaking each other’s language) and raised me and my sisters. He then enrolled in McGill Medicine and went about a second career as respected family physician. Finally, he sold his practice to resume research for Sandoz (now Novartis), where he earned international acclaim for his contributions to cyclosporin, an anti-rejection drug for organ transplant patients.
I have always been in awe of my father’s achievements, but I took a different path. After graduating with a political science degree from Concordia University in 1992, I tried a myriad of jobs before finally becoming a real estate broker. I’ve had a rewarding career in that field for decades, but after a while I needed some new challenges.
I entered the Graduate Diploma program for Communications and Public Relations through McGill’s School of Continuing Studies at the impressionable age of 46. I had always been a bit of a talker and a bon vivant, so I took to the program like a duck to water. I enjoyed coming to class every evening, even after long days at work. I was impressed by the instructors – many of whom were working professionals – who treated me like I was on their level, and favoured conversations over lectures.
While enrolled, I successfully ran to be president of the McGill Association of Continuing Education Students (MACES). During two terms, I acted as an advocate for my fellow students and tried to improve their learning experiences. Specifically, I helped secure funding for the Career Advising & Transition Services program, which helps with mentorship, CV writing, job placement – all things one needs when going “back to school.” We also convinced the School’s students to opt into health and dental insurance, so they could focus on their studies and not worry about unexpected bills.
At the time, there was an influx of highly educated Syrian students who were lacking in resources. This inspired us to invest $100,000 toward bursaries for learners striving to be at the top of their class but in need of financial assistance. We challenged McGill to match our contribution, which they did! The resulting $200,000 endowment has helped many students in the ensuing years.
As MACES president, I had a seat on McGill’s board of governors, where I witnessed the combined intelligence, abilities, hard work, and resourcefulness that go into the custodianship of this 200-year-old institution. This inspired me to contribute further to University and the School – even after I graduated – which led me to joining the Faculty Advancement Board.
Whether you’re a lifelong scientific researcher or a mature student seeking to reskill, McGill is a place where you can realize your goals. I will do everything I can to help people like me who decide, at whatever age, to enrich their lives through education.