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Feature Story

2021 Alumni Award winners

Celebrating three exceptional Allisonians
By: Kennedy Hunt (鈥21), Layton Fisher Intern in Philanthropy

Bill Evans (鈥71)

The Charles Frederick Allison Award

The Charles Frederick Allison Award, named in honour of the University founder, serves to acknowledge an Allisonian who has demonstrated exceptional, lifelong dedication to Mount Allison.

Bill Evans (鈥71), graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (economics), played intramural hockey, and met his wife at MtA 鈥 experiences many Allisonians may find relatable. However, while others may see Mount Allison as a university, Evans refers to it as a 鈥渇amily business.鈥

His great-grandfather, Thomas Pickard, brother of Mount Allison鈥檚 first principal and President, Humphrey Pickard, was the University鈥檚 first professor of mathematics and every subsequent generation has attended Mount A.

鈥淚鈥檓 a fifth-generation Allisonian 鈥 with my three children being the sixth,鈥 says Evans. 鈥淚t was only natural for me to come to Mount A. I didn鈥檛 apply anywhere else.鈥

Starting in 1974 in the R.P. Bell Library, Evans went on to have an entire career working at the University, retiring in 2012 from the Computing Services Department. 

His first committee involvement was with Doug 鈥楽tretch鈥 MacEachern (鈥54), and Margaret McCain (鈥54) in 1989, working to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Idea 鈥 when Charles Frederick Allison travelled to Fredericton in 1839 to obtain the right to start a school.

鈥淎s a first project, I remember this as being very meaningful for me,鈥 he says. 鈥淎fter this point, it seemed as though this type of work found its way into my life.鈥 

He went on to serve on several University committees, including three Presidential Search Committees. He currently serves on the Class of 1971 50th Reunion Bursary Committee and as the alumni representative on the University Senate.

He served for 12 years as president of the Mount Allison Staff Association, negotiating three collective agreements and never having a formal grievance. He has also been a Sackville town councillor since 2012 and recently retired as chair of the Board of the Sackville Memorial Hospital Foundation.

If you ask Evans what is so special about Mount Allison, his response is quick.

鈥淭he people 鈥 the connections you make, the intensity of these relationships,鈥 he says.

In 2016, during Evans鈥 45th class reunion, this was emphasized when the class decided its 50th reunion project would be a bursary to help welcome first-generation Canadians.


Marilyn Knox (鈥71)

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a graduate in their chosen professional field.

Marilyn Knox was one of the last graduates of Mount Allison鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Home Economics 鈥 Nutrition program. After graduating, she completed a Dietetic Internship and received both a Graduate Diploma in Nutrition from the University of Toronto and Master鈥檚 Certificate in Marketing Communication from York University.

Knox is a leader with over two decades of executive experience in business and government, spanning both private and public sectors. She helps others achieve exceptional results by drawing out their potential 鈥 demonstrated through the strength-based leadership coaching she does part-time in retirement.

鈥淚 believe it is essential, as a person, to use whatever abilities we have to help society move forward,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 cannot over-stress the importance of this.鈥 

These values are mirrored in her extensive involvement in both community and professional organizations, including having served as President of both Ontario and Newfoundland Dietetic Associations, and chair of Cancer Care Ontario and ParticipACTION.

Knox believes her accomplishments were heavily impacted by her ability to find 鈥榝amily鈥 wherever she went 鈥 something that began at Mount Allison.

Her advice to current students who wish to become leaders in their area of study is simple.

鈥淭he most important thing is to be clear about what matters to you! Figure out your values, what you enjoy doing, keep learning, and try not to worry about everything else,鈥 she says.


Emily Baadsvik (鈥05)

Contemporary Achievement Award

The Contemporary Achievement Award recognizes an Allisonian who has made outstanding accomplishments early in their career.

鈥淢ount Allison was a great stepping stone, I made lifelong friends,鈥 says Emily Baadsvik (鈥05).

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in history, Baadsvik, an award-winning rugby player, went on to play rugby at a provincial level before deciding to pursue a different sport in 2010 鈥 bobsleigh.

From 2010-14, Baadsvik was on the women鈥檚 national bobsleigh team, successfully representing Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Coincidentally, during this time as an athlete, Baadsvik was inspired to cross over into the realm of business, creating Calgary-based Wild Tea Kombucha.

鈥淚 began making my kombucha, giving it to friends as a gift, until I was told I should sell it at the local market,鈥 she says. 

Kombucha is created using bacteria, yeast, and sugared tea to produce fermented tea. 

Baadsvik is currently completing her e-MBA through Queen鈥檚 and Cornell Universities, with an expected graduation date in 2022. 

鈥淚 am honoured to be the recipient of this award,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 am eternally grateful to my friends, family, business partner, and the support of everyone who has been in and out of my life 鈥 it would not have been possible without them.鈥