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Alumni Recognition Awards
The Schulich School of Business Alumni Recognition Awards were established in 1992 to recognize the outstanding professional, personal and community achievements of graduates and friends of the Schulich School of Business.
The 2022/2023 ARA will be hosted in Spring 2023. Stay tuned for more information.
Watch the Awards
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Alumni Recognition Award Sculpture
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“The sculpture is an artistic abstraction of the Schulich School’s status as a global leader. Its upward twisting flow reflects Schulich’s confidence in its ability to shape the future of business management. Internal bubbles combine with ‘sky is the limit’ blue to reflect innovation and creative thinking. I wanted award recipients to recognize their own achievements in the sculpture’s positive aspects.” Jeff Goodman (1961 – 2012)
Awards Program
Outstanding Executive Leadership
Awarded to a graduate who has demonstrated extraordinary achievement, leadership and innovation in a global operation.
Introduced by Trina McQueen, O.C. (Hon LLD ‘19), Co-Director, Arts, Media & Entertainment Management Program

Vince Commisso (MBA 1992)
Co-Founding Partner, President & CEO, 9 Story Media Group
Vince Commisso is President & CEO of 9 Story Media Group, one of the industry’s leading creators, producers and distributors of top quality content for young audiences around the world. With facilities in Toronto, New York, Dublin, Manchester and Bali, the 9 Story family of companies has produced over 4,000 episodes of best-in-class kids and family programming.
Vince began his career in 1992 at Nelvana, where he rose through the ranks to become Supervising Producer, garnering one Emmy® and two Gemini® nominations. In 2002, he co-founded 9 Story Entertainment, an animation company that would utilize leading edge technologies to develop and produce compelling animated children’s content with international appeal. Since earning an Emmy® Award on the company’s very first show, Peep and the Big Wide World, 9 Story has gone on to earn countless other awards, including fourteen Emmy® Awards and two Oscar nominations.
Vince serves as Chair of the Audit and Governance Committees for The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and as Chair of the trade-based advocacy association, Canadian Association of Content Exporters (CACE). He holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and was awarded the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Entertainment and Media category in Ontario (2015).
Outstanding Progress and Achievement
Awarded to a graduate who has demonstrated outstanding career potential and achieved success and recognition in their field.
Introduced by Joyce Zemans, C.M., Senior Scholar & University Professor Emerita; Retired Director, MBA Program in Arts, Media & Entertainment Management

Tracey Pearce (MBA 1996)
Senior Media Executive & Strategic Advisor
With a career spanning more than 25 years, Tracey Pearce is an accomplished, award-winning media executive whose experience covers many facets of the industry. Grounded in law (having been a partner in a major firm and then in General Counsel roles), Pearce transitioned to a variety of operational roles, most recently as President, Bell Media, Distribution and Pay, responsible for the subscription revenue portfolio, digital product, corporate strategy and premium streaming services. An architect behind the transformation of Crave, she helped drive its significant subscriber growth through the development of an all new app and commissioning of top rated original programming such as Letterkenny and Canada’s Drag Race. A “go to” problem solver, Pearce has managed significant P&L accountability and teams, negotiated complex, major agreements (US studios, sports leagues, IOC, producers), delivered on digital transformation and driven strategy, innovation and revenue growth.
In 2017, Pearce was one of 35 women from around the world accepted to the International Women’s Forum (IWF) Leadership Foundation Fellows Program where she participated in leadership training at Harvard Business School and INSEAD. In 2016, Pearce was honoured with Women in Film & Television – Toronto’s Crystal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business. In 2021, Crave was recognized with the Industry Leadership Award at the Canadian Screen Awards.
Pearce is a member of the Executive Committee and a Director for both the Canadian Club Toronto and Alpine Canada, and serves as a member of the advisory boards of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, as well as York University’s Schulich School of Business MBA Program in Arts, Media & Entertainment Management.
Outstanding Public Contribution
Awarded to a graduate who has made a significant contribution to public life.
Introduced by Bill Graham (MBA 1986), President, Global Alumni Network

Robert C. Wong (MBA 1972)
Vice Chairman & Senior Portfolio Manager, Leon Frazer & Associates
Robert C. Wong, B.Sc., MBA’72 is currently vice chairman and senior portfolio manager at Leon Frazer & Associates. He has led a varied and interesting career path. While teaching high school math and physics, he was completing his MBA. During this period, he pioneered the teaching of computer science to high school students and wrote textbooks on the subject.
In the early Seventies, Wong had the opportunity to serve as special assistant to the minister of national health and welfare, and as an adviser to Canada’s first minister of state for multiculturalism. After his time in Ottawa, he returned to Toronto and co-founded a brokerage firm which grew to 10 offices across Canada. All the while, he remained active in politics and worked to grow Chinese-Canadian engagement. During this time, he also helped to establish Canada’s first multilingual television station in Toronto.
He then left the investment world for a full-time career in politics. In 1987 he was elected as the MPP for Fort York and in short order was appointed Ontario’s Minister of Energy in Premier David Peterson’s Government. This appointment made Wong the first cabinet minister in Canada of Chinese descent. Two years later, he took on the citizenship portfolio. His time in the Legislature led to major changes in the Power Corporation Act and the promotion of multiculturalism and equity among Ontario’s diverse population.
Wong has supported many organizations as a volunteer, including the Toronto Board of Trade, the Alzheimer Society of Toronto, St. John’s Rehab Foundation, Canadian Automobile Association, and Victoria University (U of T). He is a member of the Schulich International Advisory Council and recently completed his term on the governing Council of CPA Ontario. His honours include a U of T Arbor Award, Courvoisier Leadership Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Outstanding Contribution to the Schulich School of Business
Awarded to a friend or graduate of Schulich who has contributed significantly to promoting the interests of the School through partnership, leadership and impact
Introduced by Dezsö J. Horváth, C.M., PhD, Dean Emeritus, Tanna H. Schulich Chair in Strategic Management

Paul Labbé
Former Chair, International Advisory Council, Schulich School of Business (Presented Posthumously)
Born in Buckingham, Quebec, Paul graduated from McGill University in 1964 with a degree in law. From the very beginning of his career, his focus was on international trade and commerce. He started his career as a Trade Commissioner in the Canadian Embassy in Paris (1966-69), then served as chief of staff to the Hon. Jean-Luc Pépin, Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce (1969-72). He was a founding member of Interimco, a private international trading company (1972-80). He returned to the federal government to run the Canadian Industrial Renewal Board. In 1985, he was appointed to establish and lead Investment Canada. He was President of Export Development Canada (1991-97) and Chairman and CEO of Citibank Canada (1997-2000). Throughout his career, Paul championed Canadian business and believed in its ability to compete and succeed internationally. In his retirement, he served on several public and nonprofit boards, including Chair of the Schulich School of Business International Advisory Council. Paul was a devoted husband, father of five children and grandfather to fourteen grandchildren. He was happiest pushing the limits of conventional road travel, cutting a rug with his wife, playing shinny hockey with his grandchildren and enjoying a good meal with family.
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Past Award Recipients
The Schulich School of Business Alumni Recognition Awards were established in 1992 to recognize the outstanding professional, personal and community achievements of graduates and friends of the Schulich School of Business.
Outstanding Executive Leadership2021 Vince Commisso (MBA ’92)
2019 Michael S. Rousseau (BBA ’81)
2018 Jasper Cheung (MBA ’90)
2017 Stephen J. Sadler (MBA ’79)
2015 Ron Mock (MBA ’79, Hon LLD ’17)
2014 Michael Cooper (MBA ’86)
2013 Frank Vettese (BBA ’86, MBA ’91)
2012 P. Thomas Jenkins (MBA ’87, Hon LLD ’15)
2011 Ellis Jacob (MBA ’76)
2008 Bharat B. Masrani (BBA ’78, MBA’79, Hon LLD ’17)
2007 Robert R. McEwen (MBA ’78, Hon LLD’05)
2005 Robert C. Krembil (MBA ’71, Hon LLD’00)
2004 Richard E. Waugh (MBA ’74, Hon LLD’07)
2001 Kathleen P. Taylor (MBA/JD ’84, Hon LLD ’14)
2000 W. David Wilson (MBA ’70)
1999 Edmund Hau Wah Ho (BBA ’78)
1998 H. Anthony Arrell (MBA ’68, Hon LLD ’08)
1997 Steven K. Hudson (BBA ’81)
1996 Alan G. McNally (MBA ’69, Hon LLD’99)
1995 John S. Hunkin (MBA ’69, Hon LLD’04)
1994 Sheelagh D. Whittaker (MBA ’75)
1993 Morris A. Perlis (MBA ’72)
1992 William A. Dimma (MBA ’69, Hon LLD ’98)Outstanding Progress and Achievement
2021 Tracey Pearce (MBA ’96)
2019 Roman S. Dubczak (MBA ’87)
2018 S. Jane Rowe (MBA ’82)
2017 Stacey A. Mowbray (MBA ’88)
2015 Kishore Moorjani (BBA ’94, MBA ’95)
2014 John Ruffolo (BBA ’88)
2013 Patrick Iaboni (BBA ’93, MBA ’94)
2012 Craig Kielburger (EMBA ’09, Hon LLD ’13)
2011 Denise M. Pickett (MBA ’90)
2008 Roma R. Khanna (MBA ’01)
2007 Hana E. Zalzal (MBA ’92)
2005 James P. O’Sullivan (MBA/JD ’90)
2004 Grant E. Rasmussen (MBA ’93)
2001 Sheila A. Carroll (MBA ’98)
2001 Andrew K. Montgomery (MBA ’98)
2000 Sylvia Lien (IMBA ’97)
2000 Ron Tattum (MBA/JD ’97)
1999 Beth M. Waldman (MBA ’96)
1999 Rommie Bhutani (MBA ’96)
1998 Robert J. Gemmell (MBA/JD ’83)
1997 Dan A. Plashkes (MBA ’83)
1996 Paul G. Howes (MBA ’84)
1995 Terence G. Kawaja (MBA/JD’89)
1994 Paul S. Alofs (MBA ’83, Hon LLD ’19)
1993 Janice P. Anderson (MBA ’89)
1992 Kimberley J. Gaynor (MBA ’89)Outstanding Public Contribution
2021 Robert C. Wong (MBA ’72)
2019 Laura Michalchyshyn (MBA ’93)
2018 M. Marianne Harris (MBA/JD ’83)
2017 Philip A. Taylor (MBA ’79)
2014 J. Mark Lievonen (BBA ’79, MBA ’87, Hon LLD ’15)
2013 Janice R. Fukakusa (MBA ’79, Hon LLD ’16)
2012 Thomas Closson (MBA ’79)
2011 Colleen M. Johnston (BBA ’82, Hon LLD ’18)
2008 Richard D. Falconer (MBA ’70)
2007 Rose T. Reisman (MBA ’85)
2005 Carol A. Hansell (MBA/JD ’86)
2001 Patricia M. Campbell (MBA ’88)
2000 Anne L. Swarbrick (MBA ’98)
1999 Jacques F. Lagassé (MBA ’69)
1998 Carol A. Wilding (BBA ’83)
1997 Eileen A. Mercier (MBA ’77, Hon LLD ’10)
1996 Peter C. Maurice (MBA ’70)
1995 John (Jack) H. Yocom (MBA ’70)
1994 David L. Morton (MBA ’68)
1993 Julie A. White (MBA ’84)
1992 Carol Anne Letheren (MBA ’77)Outstanding Contribution to the Schulich School of Business
2021 Paul Labbé (Presented Posthumously)
2018 Dominic Barton (Hon LLD ’12)
2017 Jonathan Cheung (MBA ’73)
2015 Schuyler M. (Skip) Sigel
2014 Howard Lichtman (JD ’79, MBA ’82)
2013 Bill Graham (MBA ’86)
2012 Pam Laycock (MBA ’89)
2011 Timothy Price (Hon LLD ’09)
2008 Thomas H. Beechy
2007 Ann Marie Yamamoto (MBA ’83)
2005 Gordon C. Shaw
2004 Paul W. Tsaparis (MBA ’84)
2001 James G. Foy (MBA ’67)
2000 Ronald H. Farmer
1999 Gregory C. Coutts (MBA ’83)
1999 Sashya D’Souza (MBA ’00)*
1998 Eric Angelini (MBA/JD ’98)*
1997 Marshall A. Cohen (Hon LLD ’86)
1996 George R. Gardiner (Hon LLD ’82)
1994 Elmer S. Phillips
1993 Murray G. Ross (Hon DLitt ’71)
1992 James M. Gillies (Hon LLD ’06)*Significant Student Contribution
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