“YOU MAKE US PROUD!”
Celebrating the 2022 Trent University Alumni Award Recipients Trent University Alumni Association plans series of events throughout the year to recognize 2022 Alumni Award winners
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cross the globe, Trent alumni are addressing some of today’s biggest challenges and spreading the Trent spirit far and wide. The Trent University Alumni Association (TUAA) is proud to honour the best of the best with the 2022 Alumni Awards and celebrate those talented alumni who are exploring new frontiers while transforming their industries and communities. “Trent University takes pride in the amazing accomplishments of our alumni who exemplify the University’s values and excel as leaders and community changemakers,” said Lee Hays, director of Alumni & Donor Engagement. “This year’s recipients represent the incredible breadth and depth of excellence within our alumni community. Congratulations to each of these worthy honorees, you make us proud!” Honouring an advocate for Canada’s academic community Taking home one of the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Awards is Janet Bax ’69 (B.A., French, Political Studies) a retired senior public servant—provincially, federally and across the globe—who inspired colleagues to tackle pressing national and international issues. Janet served in roles with Veterans Affairs Canada, Ontario Québec Permanent Commission, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the Canadian Consulate General and Environment Canada. She retired in 2019 from her position as acting executive director of the Council of Canadian Academies where she advocated for Canada’s academic community while leading ambitious interdisciplinary research projects on crucial public policy issues. Following retirement, Janet
stayed on with the Council to support an expert panel on the issue of medical assistance in dying. “What an honour to have been nominated for one of Trent University’s 2022 Distinguished Alumni Awards,” says Janet. “My years at Trent University’s Lady Eaton College were so rich and rewarding, both academically and personally, and were crucial to my determination to make a difference through my work. As I reflect on my career and achievements, I am so grateful to have had the advantage of attending what was then a small university, dubbed Oxford on the Otonabee, and to have had the level of teaching and discussion and argument. What an ideal preparation for a career that demanded clear ideas and policies, succinctly presented and purposefully executed.” Janet is also a leader in the notfor-profit community in Ottawa, specializing in conservational and mental health issues and serves as a mentor with Women for Nature and the Royal Ottawa Hospital. Embodying Trent’s spirit of collaboration The Spirit of Trent Award goes to Stuart Butts ’65 (B.A. Honours, Political Science), a retired lawyer and entrepreneur who undertook leadership roles with several businesses and organizations, including Torham Packaging Inc., Xenos Computer Systems Inc., S&P Cosmetics Inc., Grackledocs Inc., Enviromelt Inc. and the Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Entrepreneurship. He currently serves
as an advisor/investor with several start-ups. Stuart says Trent’s spirit is embodied in collaboration, which is uniquely promoted by the University. “In my view, the world could use a lot more of the Spirit of Trent—the spirit of collaboration—which is inherent in college life with smallgroup teaching and interdisciplinary studies,” Stuart says. “At Trent, I collaborated in the establishment of the Commoner (the first and famous campus pub) and modern-day Arthur, and most recently in the late President Symons’s 90th birthday celebration. In life, I have actively participated in the formation of numerous enterprises, generally involving the skills and expertise of others, new thinking and collaborative discovery. I am currently engaged in trying to formulate a collaboration that addresses the overriding issue of climate change through the lenses of sustainable agriculture, community food security and nutrition.” Stuart started his career in corporate law with Harries, Houser and made partner in 1981. He moved on to become chair of Torham Packaging Inc. while simultaneously chairing Xenos Computer Systems Inc., which he led and grew until it was sold in 2010. While he was chair of Torham and Xenos, both businesses received Business of the Year accolades. With an interest in food security, farming and regenerative agriculture, Stuart also helped to fund and establish the Trent Farm’s Growing Change Program. He has written extensively about the impact of agrichemicals on human wellbeing in his memoir, The Farm Report. TRENT MAGAZINE 53.1
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