Barbara Seal has seen firsthand the powerful draw of post-secondary education.
As a former Canadian citizenship judge she has met many Canadian newcomers, “and I realized how difficult it was for some of them to pursue an education,” she says.“Everyone who came here had to work very hard, sometimes start over, and there were others who never had the opportunity to get an education in their country of origin. You hear their stories and realize how important it is to them, and how they so badly want this education.”
Their stories inspire Seal's work with McGill's School of Continuing Studies. She serves on the Faculty Advisory Board and established the Barbara Seal, CM, Scholarship for Newcomers to Canada—the School’s first scholarship dedicated to permanent residents and new citizens.
“So many people who crossed my path expressed the desire to get a great education, and the School provides this. I see it happening, and I see it happening at McGill.”
Since establishing the scholarship in 2012, she has attended several of the School’s scholarship receptions. “I was able to meet the recipients and see how much it means to them. Seeing how happy and grateful they are for that little bit of help—from my scholarship and others—really touched me.”
Another memorable moment occurred when a student approached her at a School event to say, “‘You swore me in!’ So it came full circle—I was privileged to be the judge to swear him in when he became a citizen, and now he was attending McGill's School of Continuing Studies.” Those exchanges have been “wonderful. If you’re able to give something—of your time, of your knowledge, of your effort —it’s very satisfying. McGill is a great university.”