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Alumni Awards: “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
Across 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.
Maintaining the Trent connection from across the globe
This year’s Volunteer Leadership Award goes to Patrick Lam ’86, who has volunteered for and served as president of TUAA’s Hong Kong Chapter for more than a decade. Patrick recalls raising his hand to volunteer for the role, without hesitation.
“Somehow I had a very strong sense of mission at that moment that I would maintain our alumni connection, with both our local alumni group and with Trent University,” he says. “Time flies and I have now met alumni from different generations. They are all great people playing different roles in our community and they inspire me in many ways, including tycoon Justin Chiu.”
Throughout the years, he says his chapter has celebrated together on Trent’s 40th (2004) and 50th (2014) anniversaries. Chapter alumni were also thrilled to meet in person with Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University, Julie Davis, vice-president of External Relations & Development, Glennice Burns, associate vice-president Trent International and Jackie Muldoon, then vice president Academic, during their trips to Hong Kong. Even in the pandemic, he says his chapter continued to meet on Zoom with extraordinary people from Trent, including Lee Hays, director of Alumni & Donor Engagement.
“What an incredible feeling to hear updates directly from those honourable guests about our university!” he says.
Patrick says the Volunteer Award should be going to all of the Hong Kong Chapter members.
“Without the support from fellow alumni, my dedication to the chapter would be meaningless,” he says. “It’s my pleasure to accept this award on behalf of our Hong Kong Chapter and I look forward to continue doing my best to connect our alumni with Trent as well as promoting Trent’s presence to our local community when and where possible.”
2022 Alumni Award recipients:
• Distinguished Alumni Award, presented based on a person’s achievement and leadership in business, industry, a profession or in public life: Dr. Jane
Heffernan ’96, hailed as one of Canada’s leading applied mathematicians, a widely respected researcher on the spread and persistence of infectious diseases; Dr.
William (Bill) Waiser ’71, distinguished historian and a member of the Order of
Canada; and Douglas (Doug) Williams ’69 (Gidigaa Migizi), who as a mentor and
Jane Heffernan Bill Waiser Doug Williams
PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION GRADUATE STUDENTS
are addressing some of society’s most fundamental challenges ...
The esteemed Ontario Graduate Scholarship allows graduate student recipients to put their focus where it needs to be most: on their academic endeavours and groundbreaking research.
educator, contributed to preserving the oral history and traditions of the Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg; Janet Bax ’69, former executive director of the Council of Canadian Academies and senior leader with Global Affairs Canada (now retired).
• Spirit of Trent Award, presented to an alum who has made a difference, through contribution to the University or their community: Deborah Berrill ’69, who has made a significant impact through her 38-year teaching career and as a community builder; Stuart Butts ’65, a lawyer by training and an entrepreneur by nature who now serves as an advisor/investor with several start-ups and is passionately dedicated to leading change through food security and regenerative agriculture. • Young Leader Award, presented to young alumni who have shown outstanding leadership throughout their first 10 years of alumni status: Anastasia Kaschenko ’12, co-founder and chief technical officer of
Majik Water, which develops sustainable clean drinking water solutions. • Tony Storey Volunteer Leadership Award: Patrick Lam ’86, who has steadfastly volunteered for, and served as president of, TUAA’s Hong Kong Alumni Chapter for more than a decade.
• Robert W.F. Stephenson Prize for students demonstrating excellence in student governance: Carter Tongs, vicepresident of student health and wellness with the Trent
Central Student Association (TCSA) and a fierce advocate for students’ wellbeing; Wendy Walker, TCSA president, who has played a pivotal role in student governance for a number of years. • Glassco Prize, presented to students who demonstrate outstanding generosity of spirit in a range of activities, including music, athletics, or theatre, in the Trent and
Peterborough communities: Wasauksing First Nation member Gracie Crafts ’18, a role model and leader in
Indigenous reconciliation efforts; Zoe Litow-Daye,
TCSA vice-president of campaigns and equity and leading student support advocate.
The 2022 awards will be presented throughout the year as part of a series of online and in-person events. More information on the 2022 Alumni Awards winners can be found on the Alumni Awards website.
THOMAS MILLER ’82
EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN TRENT VARSITY ROWER PRESIDENT, PRC COLLEGE CABINET ADVOCATE, HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS MT. VENTOUX CYCLIST
Remembering Trent in his Will, Tom’s legacy will ensure the vibrant, residential, academic, college-based education he is grateful for remains central to Trent.
What will your legacy be?
November is Make a Will Month. Leaving even a small portion of your estate to Trent University could make a considerable impact. For more information on creating your legacy at Trent University, contact Donna Doherty at donnadoherty@trentu.ca or 705-748-1011 x7208.
