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Celebrating alumni and supporters 

Concordia University Alumni Association annual awards banquet

Even though more than 275 people packed the elegant Hyatt Regency Montreal ballroom May 17, the room had a family feel. The occasion was the 19th Alumni Recognition Awards Banquet hosted by the Concordia University Alumni Association (CUAA).

Local TV and radio personality Sonia Benezra (BFA 82) handled the emcee duties with warmth and humour. “So much has changed since I was a student at Concordia in the early 80s. Yet, many characteristics have remained the same: this university is all about accessibility, diversity and creativity,” Benezra said.

The banquet included a formal dinner, as well as the presentation of eight awards and a special tribute to Leonard and Bina Ellen, for whom Concordia’s Leonard and Bina Ellen Gallery is named.

The presentations began with the Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award, which was handed to Lina Uberti, Alumni Officer Geographic Chapters for the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office. “I’ve come to learn that it takes devoted alumni, competent colleagues and commitment at every level in the university, mixed in with lots of hard work for good measure,” Uberti said during her acceptance speech.

Next was the Outstanding Student Award that went to Amine Dabchy, the Concordia Student Union’s former president who thanked his co-executives and referred to them as “family.”

Long-time Concordian Donald Boisvert (BA 75, MA 79), a senior lecturer for the Department of Religion then received the Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching. Boisvert said his students inspire him “as much as I hope I do them. Teaching still humbles and motivates me.”

The Alumnus/a of the Year award went to Denis Kefallinos (BEng 91), president of the CUAA’s Boston/New England Chapter. Kefallinos said while he was surprised to have been selected as a recipient, it paled in comparison to “the surprise of when we re-launched the Boston Chapter in 2006 and about 45 people showed up at the Canadian consulate for the event!”

Rodolphe “Rod” Rousseau, L BA 53, posthumously received the Benoît Pelland Distinguished Service Award. Rousseau’s daughter, Joanne Rousseau, BA 82, spoke on her family’s behalf. “My father would have been so proud to receive this award because he was happy to be part of Concordia University,” she said.

The MBA Alumnus/a of the Year Award was handed to Christena Keon Sirsly (MBA 73), one of just four women to graduate from Sir George Williams University’s fledgling MBA program in 1973. “There are still many glass ceilings to be breached,” said Keon Sirsly, who recently retired from VIA Rail Canada as Chief Strategy Officer.

Aaron Fish, founder and former chairman and CEO of Unican Security Systems Ltd., was then granted the Honorary Life Membership Award. Fish lauded Concordia’s progress and administrators over the years “who helped build the university up to what it is today. It’s now a major educational institution in Canada, recognized throughout the world, and it is worthy of our support.”

Brian O’Neill Gallery (L BA 57) accepted the evening’s final honour, the Humberto Santos Award of Merit. Gallery, who has served as Chair of the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation for the past 15 years, was a driving force behind the creation of the School of Canadian Irish Studies.

In between award presentations, Concordia President Judith Woodsworth delivered a special tribute to Leonard and Bina Ellen, praising Bina Ellen’s 45 years as a volunteer at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal and Leonard Ellen’s longstanding involvement with Concordia. “His polite, dignified and attentive ways are less common in the business world but they have earned him the respect and the affection of all who know him,” Woodsworth said of Ellen, who is a Concordia governor emeritus and earned an honorary doctorate from the university in 2003.

Ellen said he was drawn to the university by his friend, Donald McNaughton (L attendee 49), also a Concordia governor emeritus. “Concordia is a dynamic and creative university,” Ellen said. “It has grown tremendously through the years and it has been a privilege to have been part of that growth.”