Marianne McKenna was born in Montreal and attended The Study where she was Head Girl, graduating in 1968. She went on to receive her B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1972 and her M.Arch. from Yale University in 1976. In 1987, Marianne founded the Toronto architecture firm Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB) Architects with her partners.

Marianne is devoted to creating architecture that generates community involvement and enriches the public realm. Many of her projects for educational, social and cultural clients have impacted the urban fabric of some of Canada’s major cities, most notably Montreal and Toronto.

Marianne is committed to mentoring young architects. She has taught at McGill University’s Faculty of Architecture, L’Université de Montréal and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design. Marianne and her husband, Ian Tudhope, have two children; a 13 year-old girl and 19 year-old boy.

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Barbara Birks Wybar – Class of 64 has become a formidable force in The African Great Lakes initiative. Barbara has worked with others to support the Buduha Hope Technical Institute, raising funds and resources for the Children of Hope sponsorship program and the vocational skills high school project in the rural village of Buduha, in eastern Uganda.

A natural caregiver, Barbara has devoted herself to her two passions: children and education. In 2006 she witnessed the opening of the 200-student Buduha Hope Technical Institute that teaches useful skills such as brick laying, tailoring, carpentry and nursery training.

Patricia Claxton is one of Canada’s most respected French-to-English translators, who has translated more than 20 books and countless articles, essays, short stories and poems.

She is perhaps most well known for her connection with the grande dame of Canadian and Québec literature – Gabrielle Roy.

In 1987 Patricia was presented with the Governor General’s Award for her translation of Roy’s posthumous autobiography and in 1999 she was honoured with a second Governor General’s Award for her translation of Gabrielle Roy, a Life, by François Ricard.

Carolyn is a renowned plastic surgeon.  She is considered a leader in carpel tunnel surgery and also specializes in post-mastectomy reconstructive breast surgery

A graduate of McGill University’s Medical School, Carolyn is currently Professor of Surgery at Dartmouth College

She has held numerous leadership positions, including President of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons and has served on more than 20 medical associations and boards.

As the mother of five teenage boys, Carolyn also has firsthand experience with the challenge of juggling career and family life.

Susie is a former teacher and the mother of three children. In 1998, confronting her heartbreak at her 15-year-old son’s bi-polar disorder and resulting heroin addiction, Susie and her husband started a group for families of drug users called From Grief to Action.

She played a pivotal leadership role, organizing public forums, lobbying politicians and raising awareness of drug addiction as a health problem.

Susie’s tireless efforts earned her the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2003 and in 2002 she was a finalist for the YMCA Women of Distinction Award.

Janina Fialkowska is a world-class concert pianist.  In 2002 her performing and recording career was dealt a severe blow when a malignant tumor was removed from her left arm.  Janina marshaled her courage and continued performing music written for one-handed pianists.

In 2003 she underwent a second round of reconstructive surgery, where muscles from her back were used to replace those in her damaged arm.

At a gala recital in February 2004, Janina resumed her international career, performing as a two-handed pianist.