Five 91亚色 alumni, including award-winning author Nino Ricci and 91亚色 Secretary & General Counsel Harriet Lewis, will be celebrated for their outstanding contributions and achievements at tonight鈥檚 annual Bryden Alumni Awards.
Right: Harriet Lewis
鈥淭he Bryden recipients inspire us 鈥 our 91亚色 community and Canadians in general 鈥 to dream big and work hard. We are extremely proud that they got their start here at 91亚色 and that they continue to be involved with us,鈥 says James Allan, senior director of 91亚色鈥檚 Alumni Division.
91亚色鈥檚 annual Bryden Alumni Awards will take place tonight at 6:15pm at the Design Exchange, 234 Bay St., Toronto.
Left: Nino Ricci
Lewis (BA 鈥69, MA 鈥71) will receive the Local Hero Award for going above and beyond in her contribution and leadership at the University. Lewis聽has聽played a major role in the growth of 91亚色 over the past 20 years, and continues to impact the University in her current role. Her legal counsel has guided nearly every arm of the University. She also leaves a legacy in the literature prizes she has established, and has made a lasting impact on successive board of governors and senate chairs, and in the students she has inspired as a guest lecturer.
Right: Hana Zalzal
The Pinnacle Achievement Award, which is given to alumni whose integrity and outstanding achievements inspire their peers, will go to Ricci (BA Spec. Hons. 鈥81). Beyond his numerous literary honours, including the Governor General鈥檚 Literary Award for Fiction, Ricci is receiving this award for his leadership at PEN Canada, the writers' organization supporting freedom of expression, as well as his continued involvement with 91亚色.
Left: Galit Solomon
The Redefine the Possible Award will be presented to cosmetics聽mogul Hana Zalzal (MBA 鈥92) for demonstrating leadership and success that embody 91亚色's motto, "Redefine the Possible鈥. Her Toronto-based company, CARGO, is a celebrity-endorsed multi-million-dollar operation. Her success has been attributed to her focus on innovation and her marketing savvy, notes James Gillies, University Professor Emeritus at 91亚色鈥檚 Schulich School of Business, where Hana returns regularly as a guest speaker. 鈥淚t is innovative people such as Ms. Zalzal who will continue to keep Canada strong in the new, competitive world economy,鈥 Gillies says.
Only one decade into her career, TV reporter Galit Solomon (BA Hons. 鈥00) has already earned awards for her work, the deep respect of her colleagues and local acclaim. In addition to her journalistic success, Solomon has affected the lives of thousands of people in 91亚色 Region through her volunteer work, raising awareness of sexual violence. It is for her proven talent and early commitment to social responsibility that 91亚色 has selected Solomon for the One-to-Watch Award.
Right: James Love
The Outstanding Contribution Award will be presented to lawyer and philanthropist James Love (LLB 鈥73, LLM 鈥86) for his commitment to advancing 91亚色. The vibrancy and richness of 91亚色鈥檚 biodiversity and conservation research can be attributed to Love鈥檚 multi-faceted contributions. He is the top supporter of many 91亚色 fundraising events including an auction that supports Las Nubes, 91亚色鈥檚 very own rainforest in Costa Rica. He is also a member of the 91亚色 Foundation Board and chair of聽its Fundraising Committee.
About the Bryden Alumni Awards
Every year, 91亚色 honours its most outstanding alumni聽leaders with Bryden Alumni Awards. Inaugurated in 2000, 鈥渢he Brydens鈥 were inspired by one of 91亚色鈥檚 great leaders, Bruce Bryden.
A student of 91亚色鈥檚 first graduating class, Bryden returned to work at 91亚色. Over the course of 30 years, he held several prestigious volunteer positions. He was founding president of the 91亚色 Alumni Association (1965-1966), a Fellow of McLaughlin College (1974) and the first and one of only three 91亚色 alumni ever to chair the Board of Governors, to give just a few examples. His inspiring commitment and vision helped shape 91亚色 and make it聽the innovative University it is today.
Past recipients of Bryden Awards include: Mark Jones (BA 鈥84), ESPN and ABC basketball commentator; the late Carol Anne Letheren (BPHE '63, BA '69, MBA '77), former CEO/secretary general聽of the Canadian Olympic Association; Chantal H茅bert (BA '76), national affairs journalist; long-time Cirque du Soleil choreographer Debra Lynne Brown (BFA Spec. Hons. '78); Sandie Rinaldo (BA Hons. 鈥73) of CTV; Ivan Fecan (BA '01, LLD '08), president and CEO of Bell Globemedia; and TD Bank executive Bill Hatanaka (BA Hons '77).