Supporting reconcilation by empowering Indigenous students

Having lived and work in Canada, the United States, France, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom, BOBBY KATZ, BCL’86, LLB’86, speaks from experience in saying that his McGill Law training prepared him for creatively tackling complex legal and business issues in various legal systems.

Three decades into a successful corporate law and business career, Katz wanted to help support the next generation of leaders. “As someone from a modest socio-economic background who benefitted significantly from the opportunity to attend McGill, I feel a duty to help others who have been excluded,” Katz says.

“Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to ensuring the vitality of any country.”

Hoping to further the cause of diversity and inclusion in Canadian society, Katz and his spouse, Tina Otto, BA’85, established a scholarship to support the Faculty of Law’s reconciliation efforts. This new entrance scholarship is awarded annually to Indigenous students, or to candidates from historically underrepresented groups.

“I believe that we can drive lasting change by providing opportunities for First Nations and Inuit students to become McGill-trained lawyers and use their professional skills to foster greater economic, social and political power for First Nations and Inuit communities,” Katz says.

Katz and Otto hope that the scholarship in their names will inspire its recipients to step up for justice. “Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to ensuring the vitality of any country. Please use your legal training to drive social justice and ensure that disadvantaged members of our community have a champion to fight for them and their ability to be heard, listened to and respected,” they concluded.