Stephen Casselman, Dean Anja Geitmann, Chloé Anderson, Peter Finalyson
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS
Stephen Casselman, BScAgr’68
Stephen Casselman is the glue that keeps the Class of 1968 together. His enthusiasm and dedication to the Macdonald Class of 1968 for 50 years have led to many long-standing friendships lasting since graduation. The Class of ’68 reunions every five years are attended by at least 80 individuals as a direct result of Stephen’s prodding and leadership. After graduation, Stephen joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as an agriculture commentator based in Toronto. Within a year, he was transferred to Quebec to establish an agricultural office for the English network, working for both radio and television. After four years, Stephen was transferred back to Toronto as National Farm Commentator for CBC’s English network, daily providing written stories and taped interviews to all the other regions across the country for their use on local Radio Noon shows. In 1975, Stephen left the CBC to become Vice President of Distribution for the family’s expanding sanitation supply business. Five years ago, he took on the volunteer role of membership chairperson for the CD Farquharson Community Association in Scarborough. Now retired, Stephen enjoys fishing, especially with classmates who, over many years, have trekked to Newfoundland to fly fish for the elusive Atlantic salmon. Stephen is married to Christine Rudinsky, BScHEc’69. They have two married sons and one grandson and are a very close family.
Peter Finalyson, BScAgr’63
Peter Finlayson followed in the footsteps of both his parents and sister by graduating from Macdonald. Farming was always a passion. He returned to the family dairy farm and built a hog finishing barn. Over the years, many Mac professors, students and post grads have tramped across the Finlayson farm, setting up test irrigation and agronomy test plots. The experiments required weather data, resulting in Peter becoming a Quebec weather station observer for the past 55 years. In 1968, the Lakeshore School Board initiated a project to teach grade V students about the operation of a dairy farm in the Chateauguay Valley based on the practices of the Finlayson farm. Peter was fortunate to marry Eleanor Huggins, DipEd’67. They have 2 children—Gordon, who has just decided the farm should remain in the family, and Anne, who is a practicing veterinarian. Their philosophy has been to increase the production from their available acreage rather than purchasing more land; today the grain corn yield has sustainably increased from 70 bushels/acre in 1970 to 185. Both Eleanor and Peter, having a strong affinity for Macdonald College and, feeling that an education is of the utmost importance, began a scholarship program at the Chateauguay Valley Regional High School in Ormstown for students wishing to attend Mac. To date, 21 scholarships have been awarded. In 2006, along with George Eades, BScAgr’73, they assumed the organization of the annual “Ormstown Luncheon.” Started in 2000, this event is still going strong after 19 years. To encourage alumni donations, Peter and his sister Janet, began the Finlayson Matching Gift award in 2009. Peter was the recipient of the E.P. Taylor award in 2016 in recognition of his outstanding voluntary fund raising efforts in support of McGill. Peter has always been involved in his community supporting events and volunteering as a school commissioner, town councilor and other committees.
DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT
Chloé Anderson, BSc(FSc)’15, MSc’17
Three years ago, Chloé and her team, all students in Food Science, had a wild idea: develop a product that would help Canadians consume less sugar. Under the supervision of Dr. Karboune, they started experimenting with the oddest ingredients until they found the perfect balance. The product, an avocado-based dessert, received much attention and won multiple food development competitions, including the prestigious MARS-IFT award in the USA and in China. Driven by the strong positive feedback, Chloé decided to launch her own food business with the support of the Dobson Centre, Desautels Faculty of Management. Little did she realize that products do not speak for themselves—a good product is nothing but the start of a battle that involves few whisks but a lot of spreadsheets. Being an entrepreneur taught her that nothing happens without a plan and strong negotiating skills. After successfully developing two new recipes and running the business across Montreal, she decided to go beyond products. She was incubated at the program Next Canada in Toronto to develop an AI startup to help food manufacturers reduce waste. Today, Chloé is looking to leverage her dynamism and experience for the benefit of consumers by extending her horizons to public health, technology and the Cannabis industry in Canada and in Europe.