2025 Alumni Tribute Awards

44th annual

ALUMNI TRIBUTE AWARDS

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CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE MEM O R IAL UN IVER SIT Y

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

PROCEEDINGS ...........................................

EMCEES Gurpreet Kaur Bains 4th year HSS (anthropology and religious studies) student Russell Noseworthy 5th year B.Comm (Co-op) student

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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Robert Dowden, BA’90 Chair, Alumni Tribute Awards Selection Committee

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GREETINGS Max Mercer Business Development and Affinity, belairdirect Dr. Janet Morrison President and Vice-Chancellor, Memorial University

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AWARDS CEREMONY Dr. Jennifer Lokash Vice-President and Provost (Academic) University Orator Memorial University Performance by School of Music students

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ODE TO NEWFOUNDLAND

Outstanding Community Service Award for volunteer contributions to the community at large

MARGARET BUTT BN’88

A registered nurse by training and a lifelong volunteer at heart, Margaret Butt has built a life defined by leadership, compassion, and commitment to community.

Years as an intensive care nurse honed her caring and leadership skills; after leaving hospital nursing, she joined her family business, Parkdale Pharmacy, with an aim to expand its home care division.

Ms. Butt later brought that same dedication to retail, founding two Hallmark Gold Crown stores that earned national and international recognition.

For over 20 years, Ms. Butt was an active mentor in the Girl Guide movement and provided long-term support to an inner-city school in St. John’s, helping fund a playground, musical instruments, and classroom resources that continue to benefit students today.

A dedicated Rotarian, Ms. Butt continues to support the Rotary Club’s partnership with The Gathering Place. Margaret Butt’s legacy reflects the enduring power of volunteerism and the extraordinary impact of helping others through a lifetime of meaningful service.

Horizon Award for exceptional achievement by a Memorial graduate 35 years of age and younger

DR. JOHN JEDDORE B.Sc.’12, MD’17

Dr. John Jeddore was raised in Conne River, learning the language, traditions, and cultural practice of his ancestors. He was taught that a key element in learning these things was the philosophy that you must, in turn, teach them as well.

This foundational teaching has guided him throughout his life.

As a student he fought for Indigenous issues on Memorial University’s Senate.

A trailblazer, he was the first Indigenous medical student from Miawpukek First Nation and earned his medical degree in 2017.

He has received numerous awards for his work within the medical and Indigenous communities, becoming an intersectional advocate while maintaining the Mi’kmaw language and dedicating his considerable talents to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

His self-awareness and resiliency have paved the way for others and offer life-long lessons for us all.

Outside of work, John loves spending time with his wife, Loni (Slade), and two sons, Gabriel Sulia’n and Jack Alukji’j Jeddore.

J.D. Eaton Award for volunteer contributions to Memorial University

PETER CARVER B.COMM.(HONS.) (CO-OP.)’81

Peter Carver is, quite simply, one of Memorial’s biggest cheerleaders.

He holds a B.Comm.(Hons.)(Co-op.)’81 from the Faculty of Business Administration, followed by an MBA from Queen’s University in 1982. Since graduation he has built a successful career in real estate investment and asset management, in both institutional and entrepreneurial roles, while giving back to Memorial.

He has shaped the future of Memorial through service and leadership, both as a former member of the President’s Advisory Council and as chair of the Greater Toronto Area Alumni Board, of which he remains an active member.

He has spent countless enthusiastic hours volunteering for the university, deeply committed not only to alumni connections and varsity athletics, but to all university issues, challenges and successes.

Memorial’s alumni program in Toronto is one of the strongest in the country, thanks in large part to his work.

Mr. Carver has been instrumental in transforming Memorial’s University’s national approach to alumni engagement and enhancing it’s global reputation.

In Toronto, where he lives with his wife Sarah and their son Liam, he sits on the boards of both Tafelmusik and the Toronto Golf Club. He is also assistant coach of his son’s hockey team self-identifying as the “least qualified coach in minor hockey.”

Alumni of the Year Award EMAD RIZKALLA B.ENG.’92

Emad Rizkalla is the founder and CEO of Bluedrop.

Mr. Rizkalla co-founded Memorial University’s first tech start-up before he graduated with his engineering degree. That original start-up survived and spun off several companies, all of which are still headquartered in the province, collectively employing 800 people.

Today, Bluedrop ISM is a recognized leader in workforce upskilling, credential management and employment systems. It helps governments, industry groups, and unions keep workers safe, productive and relevant.

In 2000, while still under 30, Mr. Rizkalla was selected as one of the Globe and Mail’s “Top 40 under 40.” That same year, he was profiled in a TIME magazine cover story as one of “8 Young Dynamic Entrepreneurs Who Will Create the 21st Century.” In 2013, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Emad Rizkalla is a sought-after speaker at international conferences and regularly advises governments on how economies (and people) will be impacted by profound changes to the nature of work. Emad’s views on the workforce of the future, innovation, and corporate culture are regularly featured in global media, industry publications, business books and through his posts on LinkedIn and the Huffington Post.

THANK YOU The Alumni Tribute Awards would not be possible without the hard work and commitment of those who serve on its selection committee.

We would also like to thank those who took the time to nominate the award recipients.

We are extremely proud to celebrate their success and the success of all our alumni who are making a difference.

ALUMNI TRIBUTE AWARDS SELECTION COMMITTEE Isaac Adejuwon, B.Eng.’16 Kanani Davis, B.Ed.’09 Robert Dowden, Chair, BA’90 Brad Hollett, BBA’96, MBA’05 Richard Mandeville, B.Eng.’05 Mimi Sheriff, MA’12 Sharon Smith, BN’79, MN’96

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NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2026 ALUMNI TRIBUTE AWARDS Nominations are open year-round! Please considering nominating deserving alumni in 2026! Learn more at www.mun.ca/ alumni/honouring-our-alumni/alumnitribute-awards/

PARTNERS ...........................................

EVENT

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BACHELOR

CENTRE FOR INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

www.mun.ca/alumni