Professor Edward Shortliffe is widely acknowledged as a global expert in biomedical informatics. His remarkable career has spanned over forty years, and has included senior appointments at some of the world’s most prestigious universities, hospitals, and medical and physician associations and colleges. But he didn’t start off with medicine in mind: his initial training was in mathematics and computer science. Although he was born in Edmonton, Alberta, as a boy he moved with his parents to the ...
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Sonia Nieto is widely acknowledged as one of the most important international voices for cultural openness and bilingual learning, a distinction she has earned through her academic rigour and commitment to the teaching profession. Moreover, her dedication to diversity, equity and social justice in education has played a major role in shaping a whole generation of teachers and education professionals. She is currently Professor Emerita of Language, Literacy, and Culture at the College of Educat...
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Throughout his career, David Ross has successfully blended engineering and business to epitomize the entrepreneurial spirit. Under his leadership, Ross Video has become a global leader, closing the gap between the fields of technology and innovation and the world of arts, sports and entertainment. David Ross’ long history of computer programming innovation dates back to his childhood; in 1975, at the age of nine, he won three major engineering competitions at the national level with projects i...
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Mary Anne White is a scientist, science promoter and writer who has enjoyed a 30-year career as a professor of chemistry and physics. She is currently the Harry Shirreff Professor of Chemical Research (Emerita) at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Her area of research is energetics and the thermal properties of materials, and applications of her research have led to new developments in energy scavenging and storage, along with materials that change colour with temperature for erasable printing. ...
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Lakhdar Brahimi has worked to resolve conflict and build peace in some of the most troubled regions in the world. Since 2004, he has been Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In 1956, two years after Algeria’s war of independence broke out, Lakhdar Brahimi left his studies in Paris to join his country’s liberation struggle. At the age of 22 he represented the National Liberation Front in Southeast Asia, a position he held for five years. Following Algerian independen...
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Claire Deschênes is an engineer and Laval University professor who is a world renowned researcher in hydraulic turbine technology. She was awarded bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Laval University before earning a doctorate at the Institut national polytechnique in Grenoble. In 1989, she became the first female professor of engineering at Laval University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering. There she founded the Hydraulic Machines Laboratory (LAMH), today a glob...
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Jean-Louis Roy is an academic, journalist and diplomat who has been editor-in-chief of Le Devoir (1981-1986), Delegate General for Quebec in Paris (1986-1990), and secretary general of Agence intergouvernementale de la francophonie, the forerunner of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (1990-1998). From 2002 to 2007, he was president of Rights and Democracy, and in 2008, he founded Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Watch, which monitors how well United Nation member states comply wi...
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In 1981, Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Richard L'Abbé co-founded Med-Eng Systems Inc. at the age of 24, two years after graduating from the University of Ottawa with a degree in mechanical engineering. From his initial position as production manager of the Ottawa-based manufacturer, he quickly became President and CEO, a position he held until he retired in late 2005.  Under his leadership, Med-Eng became a major international player in the field of explosive ordnance disposal e...
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A graduate of Simon Fraser University, Howard Sapers has always worked to ensure the wellbeing of all Canadians, both as an elected official and through his major contributions to criminology and corrections. He served two terms in the Alberta legislature as the MLA for Edmonton–Glenora, and in his second term, he served as House Leader and Leader of the Official Opposition. But worthy as his political contributions have been, they pale in comparison to his long and distinguished career in cri...
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The common thread that runs through Lloyd Axworthy’s lengthy career in politics, international affairs and academia, is his commitment to defending the rights of marginalized individuals, children, indigenous peoples, and those who inhabit war-torn countries. He graduated in 1961 with a BA from United College and received an MA and PhD from Princeton University. In 2004, he returned to the University of Winnipeg to serve as President and Vice-Chancellor for ten years, working to make post-seco...
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