Donors John and Marcy McCall MacBain have created Canada’s first comprehensive, leadership-driven scholarship in the country for master’s and professional degree students through a landmark gift of $200 million (Canadian).
The McCall MacBain Scholarships will invest in students who are developing expertise in their respective fields and have a track record of collaborating with others to understand and address important problems and challenges. By creating Canada’s first comprehensive scholarship at this level – one that builds on but is not limited to academic excellence – John and Marcy McCall MacBain hope to bring together a resilient community of students dedicated to solving pressing global issues and complex problems, to ultimately improve the lives of others.
In addition to full funding to cover tuition and fees plus a living stipend, scholars will benefit from mentorship and immersive learning experiences including retreats, workshops and internships. It will be the most generous and comprehensive graduate scholarship to exist at this level in Canada.
“As graduates of Canada’s publicly-funded university system, Marcy and I know first-hand how universities like McGill can reduce social barriers and foster talent at the highest of levels,” said Mr. McCall MacBain. “I received my undergraduate degree as a scholarship student from McGill and it truly changed my trajectory. We are confident that with its combination of academic excellence and global reach, McGill is the institution where even more exceptional students can realize the aspirations they have for themselves and the welfare of others.”
Scholars will be selected for a combination of civic engagement, intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurial spirit, academic excellence, and exceptional character. Understanding that students with these qualities exist all over the country and the world, McCall MacBain Scholars will represent a diversity of backgrounds and bring a broad range of academic interests, cultural and geographic experiences, and a strong spirit of collaboration and deep interest in learning from others.
Applications will open in the fall of 2020 to students from across Canada for the inaugural class. McCall MacBain Scholars will begin their studies at McGill in the fall of 2021. The Scholarships will be expanded to include international students in the third year of operation. Within five years, the Scholarships will grow to support up to 75 scholars on campus. McCall MacBain Scholars will be able to choose among existing master’s and professional degrees such as Law and Medicine, as well as McGill's newly-created interdisciplinary Master of Arts and Science, which is under development and is expected to be inaugurated to coincide with the inaugural class.
“We are incredibly grateful to John and Marcy McCall MacBain for their visionary support of McGill’s students,” said Suzanne Fortier, McGill’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “As McGill prepares to celebrate its Bicentennial in 2021, the McCall MacBain Scholarships embody our vision for McGill’s third century: a place where students become future-ready and prepared to contribute to shaping our rapidly changing world.”
“As we develop these scholarships and support our scholars, we are looking forward to welcoming promising leaders with an entrepreneurial spirit, who foster opportunities not only for themselves – but for those living in the world around them,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain.
Originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario, John McCall MacBain studied Economics at McGill, graduating in 1980. He was deeply involved in student life, including serving as President of the Students Society of McGill University. Mr. McCall MacBain subsequently obtained a law degree from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, followed by an MBA from Harvard Business School, before launching a successful entrepreneurial career.
Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain is originally from Huron County, Ontario, and obtained an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology from McMaster University in 2000. She then completed a Master of Science in International Health Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care at the University of Oxford. In her current role as an academic, Dr. McCall MacBain encourages the uptake of evidence-based practice through research and teaching initiatives with the Department of Primary Care Health Sciences and the Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford.
John and Marcy McCall MacBain and their Foundation have been longtime supporters of McGill and deeply influential patrons of higher education around the world.
PHOTO: Lucas Toussaint