Media Releases and Opportunities

April 13, 2022 (Halifax, NS) – After a rigorous seven-month process, chosen from nearly 700 Canadian applicants, Dalhousie University student Anna Gaudet (BA’22) has received exciting news. She is one of 20 Canadian scholars who have been chosen as a McCall MacBain Scholar - the country’s first comprehensive leadership-based scholarship for master’s and professional studies.

“Getting the news after final interviews was one of the most exciting moments of my life,” Anna  said. “I was studying for exams when I was asked to join a Zoom call, and was greeted by John McCall MacBain on the screen. I never thought I would meet such an influential Canadian figure. I was overwhelmed hearing I had been awarded the scholarship and my first thought was ‘I cannot wait to tell my mom.’”

As a McCall MacBain Scholar, Anna will pursue a fully funded master’s degree at McGill University while connecting with mentors and participating in an intensive leadership development program. The scholarship funding covers the program’s tuition and fees, as well as a living stipend of $2,000 per month.

“We are delighted to learn of Anna's latest achievement. She is one of our star students, and I am confident that she will not only benefit tremendously from the opportunity the McCall MacBain Scholarship provides, but also further enhance the prestige of this scholarship through her work,” says Dalhousie President Deep Saini.  “Thank you to John and Marcy McCall MacBain for their ongoing generosity and vision. The impact they are making on post-secondary education is immense, and vital to building Canada’s future leaders.”

Each scholar was chosen based on their character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.

Anna serves as a board director and Metro Halifax advisor, supervising a team of 20 youth, for the Nova Scotia Secondary Students Association. She volunteers with the Concours d’art oratoire, Canada’s largest annual French public speaking competition, and this year represented Arts and Social Science students as a Dalhousie Student Union council member. Having developed a passion for personal and public history, Anna runs a program providing free genealogy reports to seniors and spends her summers working at national historic sites. During the year, she has worked part-time as a teaching assistant and tutor. She hopes to pursue a Master of Arts in History at McGill.

“I am so thankful for the foundation for believing in my potential,” said Anna. “If there is one message I could get out there about this scholarship, it would be to apply. I really didn’t consider myself to be a compelling candidate, but comparing yourselves to others is not the nature of this award. Be confident in what makes you and your service unique and bring that enthusiasm to the interview.”

The McCall MacBain Scholarships are the result of a historic $200-million gift to McGill University, which at the time was the largest single donation in Canadian history. The scholarships are planned to continue in perpetuity.  

“We need inclusive, collaborative, and forward-thinking leaders in all sectors and fields,” said John McCall MacBain, who, together with his wife Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, created these scholarships through a historic gift to McGill University. “With this scholarship, students will expand their networks, deepen their leadership skills, and benefit from full funding to pursue their dreams of improving their communities – and the world. Congratulations to these students and the hundreds of candidates across Canada who were considered for this scholarship.”

“Our new scholars have taken different paths towards this moment and will contribute unique perspectives to the scholarship community,” said Natasha Sawh, Dean of the McCall MacBain Scholarships. “The selection committees looked for leadership potential, a willingness to engage with diverse perspectives, and traits like empathy, integrity, and grit. Our process incorporates a wide range of volunteer readers and interviewers, who understand the candidates and their varied experiences.”

Anna is the third Dalhousie student or graduate to earn the McCall MacBain Scholarship. Fatima Beydoun (BA’21) and Caroline Merner (BA’17) were selected as inaugural scholars in April 2021. They are currently pursuing degrees in law and public policy, respectively, at McGill.

In addition to selecting 20 McCall MacBain Scholars, the McCall MacBain Scholarships program and McGill University have offered 54 entrance awards of $5,000 or $10,000 each to promising candidates. Altogether, this year’s 74 scholarships represent an estimated commitment of nearly $2 million in tuition and living costs alone, which will be complemented by mentorship and leadership development programming.

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Media Contact:
Janet Bryson
Associate Director Media Relations and Issues Management
Dalhousie University
Cell: (902) 222-9379
janet.bryson@dal.ca