Megan Leslie and Heather McNeill among inaugural Dal Aurum Award recipients

LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI AMONG INAUGURAL 2019 AURUM AWARD RECIPIENTS The Aurum Awards recognize Dalhousie alumni for their outstanding achievements and innovation, community engagement and leadership, and contributions to the social, cultural and economic well-being of society

BY FALLON BOURGEOIS

MEGAN LESLIE (’04) A PASSION FOR JUSTICE As a Dalhousie law student, Megan Leslie (’04) embraced the Weldon Tradition through her work on behalf of low-income families through the university’s Legal Aid Service. As a New Democrat Party member representing Halifax in parliament, she introduced a bill to ban microbeads and seconded a bill to expand Canada’s Human Rights Act to protect the transgender community. And now as president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada), she is focused on restoring vital habitat and reversing the decline of wildlife species nationwide.

These are just a few of the many undertakings and achievements that earned Leslie a 2019 Aurum Award.

“My goal has always been to work on issues of justice,” Leslie says. “For me, that means environmental, social, and economic justice. I want to see more equity. I want to see rights being upheld. I want to see a clean environment. I’m very mission driven.”

One mission that Leslie has been dedicated to recently is developing a strategic plan for WWF-Canada to address the main drivers of wildlife loss, including climate change and industrial activity such as mining. It follows on a significant victory for the organization – the federal government’s announcement it will ban oil drilling and mining in marine protected areas. Leslie says she is happy to have played a role in making this momentous decision possible.

“I hope, through my work, I’m helping to create a movement of future leaders,” Leslie says. “In thirty years, when I am retired and sitting on my porch, I want to look out there and see thousands of Canadians mobilizing and inspiring each other to seek justice in many different ways.” HEATHER MCNEILL (’94) DEDICATED TO HELPING OTHERS When most people retire, they take up a hobby, or travel the world. Not Heather McNeill (’94). Since winding down a 21- year career as a Dalhousie Legal Aid lawyer in 2019, McNeill has been, as she puts it, “working full time plus-plus” as Legal Advisor of the Enhanced Child Family Initiative at the Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative Negotiation Office, and with several community initiatives and organizations. And it is clear she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I believe the Creator has put me on the earth to serve and I get great pleasure out of that,” McNeill says. “Sometimes, I’m helping in small ways. Sometimes, it’s something bigger. But anything I can do to help make this world better, I will do.”

Inspired by the example set by her mother, who always extended herself to help those in need, McNeill continues to exemplify true Weldon Tradition in her devotion to making a difference, particularly for First Nations communities in Nova Scotia. The Millbrook Band member is a board member with Tawaak Housing, which is helping Aboriginal peoples in securing affordable shelter off the reserve. She is a member of the Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq Initiative Advisory Council and the IB&M Standing Committee at the Schulich School of Law. She is also putting her Dalhousie background to good use with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission working group at the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society and, perhaps most notably, with the Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative, supporting Mi’kmaq efforts to develop a governance model for Mi’kmaq child welfare in Nova Scotia.

McNeill’s work earned her a 2019 Aurum Award, which she sees as an opportunity to inspire others.

“I have always believed you lead by example,” she says. “When people see or know that you are doing what is right or what is needed, they might follow in your footsteps. That’s what’s important to me – to see others pick up that thread.”

“I hope, through my work, I’m helping to create a movement of future leaders. In thirty years, when I am retired and sitting on my porch, I want to look out there and see thousands of Canadians mobilizing and inspiring each other to seek justice in many different ways.”

MEGAN LESLIE

PHOTO CREDIT: MEGHAN TANSEY WHITTON

“I have always believed you lead by example. When people see or know that you are doing what is right or what is needed, they might follow in your footsteps. That’s what’s important to me – to see others pick up that thread.”

HEATHER MCNEILL