The McCall MacBain Scholarship

About the awards

The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill are Canada’s first leadership-driven scholarship for master’s and professional degree students. They represent an investment in students who are developing expertise in their respective fields, have a track record of taking initiative, and seek to collaborate with others to understand and address important problems and challenges.

McCall MacBain Scholars connect with mentors and participate in an interdisciplinary leadership program while pursuing a fully funded master’s or professional degree at McGill University. Dr. John McCall MacBain and Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain announced the creation of the McCall MacBain Scholarships in February 2019 through a landmark gift of $200 million, the single largest gift in Canadian history.

• Current and past winners and finalists
• How to apply
• Important dates

Our 2023 McCall MacBain Scholarship recipients

Dalhousie University congratulates graduates Caleigh Wong (Dipl/BA’22) and Chantel Findlay (BSc’21) for being among 20 Canadian recipients of the McCall MacBain Scholarships, the country’s first comprehensive leadership-based scholarship for master’s and professional studies.

The scholarships are the result of a landmark $200-million gift in 2019 by John and Marcy McCall MacBain to enable students to pursue a fully-funded master’s or professional degree at McGill, while participating in mentorship, coaching, and a leadership development program.

We are thrilled to learn that Caleigh and Chantel are recipients of the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship,” says Frank Harvey, President and Vice-Chancellor of Dalhousie University (Acting). “Both have distinguished themselves in their studies and in their commitment to their communities. They will benefit tremendously from the generosity of John and Marcy McCall MacBain and the impact that the McCall MacBain scholarship will have in their lives as future leaders.”   

Originally from Malaysia, Caleigh Wong is the co-founder of a non-profit organization addressing anti-Asian racism and editor-in-chief of its magazine. She recently graduated from Dalhousie University with a degree in international development studies and a diploma in civil engineering as a Sexton Scholar. As a student, Caleigh chaired a refugee sponsorship group, participated in a women in politics summit, and gathered 10,000 signatures to petition for anti-racism courses in BC high schools. Caleigh was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces from 2017 to 2022, including a year deployed in Eastern Europe. She served as her home unit’s ethics officer, providing training on discrimination and harmful institutional culture to soldiers. As a McCall MacBain Scholar, Caleigh plans to pursue a master’s degree in political science at McGill.

Chantel Findlay studied neuroscience, microbiology, and immunology at Dalhousie University, and is currently a qualifying-year student at McGill’s Ingram School of Nursing. She was involved with Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Halifax from a young age and has given back as a volunteer junior leader and staff member. Chantel also managed public relations for a student society providing live music in seniors’ homes and hospitals, assisted an elderly family member every week during the pandemic, and volunteered with Kids Help Phone. She now volunteers at the Teddy Bear Hospital in Montreal and plans to enter the master’s degree in direct-entry nursing at McGill.

The McCall MacBain Scholarships program also offered Regional Awards of $5,000 each to 38 more Canadian candidates who were among the top in their region. Dalhousie student Francesca Sivilotti (BA’23) earned a Regional Award, which can be used at any public university in Canada. Francesca is enrolled in the Law, Justice & Society program at Dalhousie University in Halifax. She competes as a rower on the varsity rowing team and, as coxswain in first year, led the team to its best performance at the Canadian University Rowing Championships in a decade. Francesca also serves on the board of a food co-operative, oversees student advising for an eating disorders recovery society, and volunteers with a crisis line.

Past McCall MacBain Scholarship recipients

2022: Anna Gaudet (BA'22)

2021 Fatima Beydoun (BA'21) and Caroline Merner (BA'17)

How to apply

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the 2025 cohort, you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

• You are a current student on track to earn your first bachelor's degree by August 2025
• You earned your first bachelor's degree in the last five years
• You earned your first bachelor's degree more than five years ago, and are 30 years or younger in 2024

You will also need to meet the minimum degree and language requirements for McGill master's program admission.

Application procedures

You will need to complete two applications:

1. The McCall MacBain Scholarship application. 
2. You also need to apply directly to McGill for at least one eligible full-time master’s or professional program. Program admission requirements and timelines vary, so please research the ones that interest you. We will ask you to apply by the first deadline for Fall admission, or by mid-December at the latest if you are selected for final interviews.

Please note: current university students and recent graduates must have their application endorsed by their institution. After you complete your application, it will be submitted to the university for review.

Important dates

If you have additional questions, please contact linda.ruhloff@dal.ca.