From May 13 to 15, 2026, more than 50 alumni from five McCall MacBain Scholar cohorts gathered in Montreal to reconnect, reflect on leadership and impact, and strengthen networks. Alumni came from across Canada and from as far away as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Mongolia.
The reunion also offered alumni a first look at the newly renovated third floor of the McCall MacBain House. Officially opening in September, the new floor will more than double the space available for scholars to gather, study, learn, and collaborate.
The reunion began with a welcome reception featuring an artistic performance by Carali McCall. Through her work, Carali prompted reflection on perseverance and the courage to begin without knowing when or how something will be completed.
Thursday’s program invited participants into a deeper conversation. The opening ceremony, led by Kan’ahsohon Kevin Deer, grounded the gathering in reflection and shared understanding of our purpose on this planet. This was followed by a keynote conversation between Canadian journalist and Truth and Reconciliation commissioner Marie Wilson and Wendat actor, host, translator, and director Charles Bender, exploring themes of leadership, reconciliation, and the responsibility that comes with influence.
Later in the day, policy entrepreneur Graham Fox and Dr. Wendy Lai, emergency physician and the past-president of Médecins sans frontières Canada, facilitated interactive sessions on leading through crisis and change. These sessions encouraged participants to think through real-world challenges together and reflect on how values shape decisions in complex situations. In the evening, alumni gathered at Maison Alcan for a reception hosted by John and Marcy McCall MacBain.
Friday’s program shifted toward skill-building and looking ahead. A session led by Yaa-Hemaa Obiri-Yeboah focused on navigating early careers with intention and embracing paths that are not always linear. Breakout sessions on building inclusive workplaces with Youla Pompilus-Touré and on global public policy with Professor Jennifer Welsh gave participants practical tools to apply in their own work.
The alumni-led sessions were a highlight for many. Reflecting the diversity of the alumni network, these peer conversations covered a wide range of topics, from leadership challenges and ethical decision-making to creativity, climate work, and building community in new environments.
“Everybody I have met through the scholarship is a solution-oriented person wanting to make the world a better place.” – Sam Nepton (2024)
Andrew Kushnir and Nadia Chaney, who have facilitated summer intensives with scholars since the very first cohort, led a workshop focused on the future of the alumni community and how to stay connected over time. After a closing circle with Marie Wilson, current scholars joined alumni for a 5 à 7 reception in the expanded McCall MacBain House.
“Our hope is that alumni feel both the freedom and the encouragement to be able to pursue different paths, ones that they might not have envisioned in the first place,” says Natasha Sawh, CEO of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “It is such a joy to see our alumni support one another and also, when the time is right, push one another to contribute in the ways that we all know they have great capacity to do.”
Overall, the reunion created time to pause, reconnect, and think more intentionally about leadership and community. “I’m grateful to be part of this alumni network and to be at the first alumni reunion,” said Sam Nepton, a member of the 2024 cohort. “There will be hundreds of people joining this alumni community, and I want to get to know them all. I think that there are lots of challenges that we’re facing in the world, and in our own communities, and it is helpful to know people with different talents, skills, interests, and connections to navigate and try to find solutions. Everybody I have met through the scholarship is a solution-oriented person wanting to make the world a better place.”