Posted: May 15, 2024
By: Jon Bruhm
For Giving Power
At Dalhousie’s annual Celebration of Philanthropy in December 2023, President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Kim Brooks welcomed new members of the MacLennan Society.
Established in 2017, the MacLennan Society recognizes Dalhousie’s most loyal supporters. It is named after Dr. Rod (BSc’60, LLD’98) and Robin MacLennan – the first donor household to reach 50 years of consecutive giving to the university.
In 2023, the society welcomed more than 1,000 new and upgraded members from more than 800 households, including 10 members who achieved Gold-level status in recognition of 50 years of giving:
- Carol Beal (BA'68,BEng'77)
- Dr. Douglas (DDS’55) and Jacqueline Eisner (DDH’72)
- Dr. Frederick (BSc’64,MD’69) and Mary Fraser
- Stewart (BSc’58) and Judy Reeves
- Robbie (LLB’66) and Jean Shaw
- Irene Young (DipEd’58)
When Dr. Tom Boran (DDS’78,MEd’89), was dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, he always visited dentistry and dental hygiene students on the first day of class – both to welcome them and to remind them to take their education very seriously, as one day they might just look down and see him sitting in their clinic chair. Years later, that’s exactly what happened to Dr. Ian MacAskill (BEng’03,MASc’05,DDS’11).
“When I went in for my first appointment, [Dr. MacAskill] told me: ‘You warned us this might happen, and here we are!’” chuckles Dr. Boran – a MacLennan Society member and supporter of a fund that bears his name (the Dr. Tom and Deb Boran Oral Health Outreach Fund).
Dr. Boran jumped at the opportunity to surprise Dr. MacAskill with his new MacLennan Society pin during a scheduled dental appointment in December 2023. “Ian was a great student, and I couldn’t ask for a better dentist,” he says. “Also, I was so pleased – but was not at all surprised – to learn he’s been such a loyal Dal donor.”
Dr. Ian MacAskill (left) receives his MacLennan Society pin from Dr. Tom Boran. (Submitted photo)
In addition to supporting several areas across the university, Dr. MacAskill established the MacAskill Family Community Involvement Scholarship in 2021. It recognizes a dentistry student who has demonstrated outstanding community involvement outside of their program, and who promotes equity and diversity. He says he was inspired to create the scholarship after seeing a series of social media posts featuring Dalhousie dentistry student award recipients.
“I received awards during my time at Dal and felt this was an opportunity for me to pay it forward and support well-rounded students,” he says. “I believe oral health professionals have the responsibility to give back to their communities, and it was really nice to be recognized for doing so by my dean.”