Winter 2023
When Omar Sachedina, BA’04, became the new chief news anchor and senior editor for CTV National News, he took on one of the most prominent roles in Canadian journalism. Under the best of circumstances, it would be a challenging job – and the circumstances were far from ideal.
People
A minister for both the economy and English-speaking Quebecers
As Quebec’s finance minister, Eric Girard, BCom’89, already had a lot on his plate. Now, he has an additional responsibility – he’ll be trying to improve relations between his Coalition Avenir Québec government and the province’s anglophone community.
Culture
Film shines light on racism in hockey
In Black Ice, his latest documentary, Hubert Davis, BA’00, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, explores the history and experiences of Black hockey players – the racism they have had to deal with and the contributions they have made to their sport.
“Our laws on the public and private sector sides of privacy are past due for modernizing and they need to catch up to the technologies that have been developing and continue to develop at a very rapid pace”
Philippe Dufresne
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Culture
A father and son in tune with the music business
Some of the best music released in Canada, albums that have contended for Junos and the Polaris Prize, come from a pair of Montreal-based record labels. Meet Jim West, BA’79, the president of Justin Time Records, and his son Justin West, BCom’04, the president of Secret City Records.
People
Disability rights expert joins international UN committee
Laverne Jacobs, BA’94, BCL’99, LLB’99, is one of Canada’s top authorities on the rights of persons with disabilities. She is taking her expertise to the international stage as the first Canadian to ever serve on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
On Campus
Principal’s Perspective: An eventful return to campus
Christopher Manfredi on a busy fall semester and how his time as the University’s interim principal has “deepened my appreciation for the people who work to support McGill, both internally and externally.”
Culture
Wrestling with identity (and laughing about it)
Ali Hassan, BA'95, is familiar to Canadians as a comedian and a prominent voice on CBC Radio. His recent book 'Is There Bacon in Heaven?' tackles the complexity of his identity as a cultural Muslim with a humorous touch.
Society
How an award-winning school in Uganda began as a McGill student project
While studying at McGill, Andrea Charbonneau and Farah Williamson created a student group to help children in a war-torn, poverty-stricken area of northern Uganda. Years later, those efforts have resulted in Wakadogo, a school that is changing young lives and earning international accolades.
Alum notes
See what everyone's been up to