With over 100,000 University of New Brunswick alumni around the world, we have many reasons to be proud. Our alumni are changemakers, distinguishing themselves through outstanding service to their alma mater, their communities, province, or country, and beyond. The Proudly UNB Awards recognize these outstanding alumni and demonstrate our pride in their accomplishments.
Bios for this year's honourees are below, and you're invited to join us at the Proudly UNB Awards Celebration Dinner in Saint John on April 11. This is always a powerful evening, in which we celebrate just a handful of the 100,000 reasons to be proud of our global alumni community!
Proudly UNB Awards Celebration Dinner
Friday, April 11 · 6 - 9 p.m.
Delta Hotels, 39 King St., Saint John, NB
Registration deadline is April 3
Paula C. Copeland (BA'93) is strategic advisor to the CEO at Port Saint John, is a global leader in port engagement and plays a pivotal role in driving inclusive initiatives that prioritize Indigenous relations, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. A committed community volunteer, she dedicates her time to the Harbour Lights Campaign and the Saint John Seafarers' Mission.
Jason H. Court (BBA'09) has received extensive recognition in the insurance industry; is the president of the Insurance Professional's Association of New Brunswick, director for the Insurance Institute of Canada and a panellist for insurance education in Atlantic Canada; and has been a longtime board member of PRO Kids Saint John, supporting the financial needs of youth participation in sports, arts, recreation and culture activities.
Mary R. Dable Arab (BBA'93), president and owner of BARA Management Group, is a trailblazer in business and philanthropy, a top Canadian fundraiser for Arthritis Canada and a patient adviser with the Paediatric Faculty of Rheumatology at the IWK. Mary sits on several community boards, receiving the 2022 Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal and the Platinum Jubilee Community Hero Award. She inspired the launch of "Women on the Move," where she invested in emerging female leaders, and continues to lecture and mentor business owners today.
Li Song (BEd/BA'08) is an extraordinary champion for UNB and her community of Saint John, having received several awards and recognitions, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, for her work with PRUDE Inc., her volunteerism within the multicultural community in support of immigrants, diversity and inclusion, and her work as a realtor.
Kathy L. Whynot (BEd'09, MEd'19) has worked tirelessly across sectors and departments in her profession and her extensive board volunteerism to lead the creation of six provincial curricula teaching English as an additional language, five online courses and six additional asynchronous modules for teachers, to develop an innovative program for high school newcomers, and to establish a new support teacher position for English as an additional language - the first of its kind in Canada.
Niko C. Coady (BA'22) is an activist and leader in sexual and gender-based violence prevention. A published social justice writer with organizations such as the Canadian Center for Women's Empowerment, Niko has worked with Women and Gender Equality Canada to develop a gender-based violence prevention toolkit for youth, is a contractor through Safe Workspaces PEI, facilitates workplace harassment and violence prevention training for organizations across Canada, and currently works for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research.
Christena M. Curry’s (BRSS'16, MASRS'22) 15-year involvement in the recreation and sports sector has led to the development of a strategic plan for Nova Scotia's First Nation communities; has earned her recognition as an inductee in the Mi'kmaq Sports Hall of Fame; and through her extensive work with Millbrook First Nation, has led to the launch of a pilot project encouraging home gardening, which has increased food security and removed financial barriers for over 65 homes.
Jordan J. MacDonald (BA'21) is a UNB PhD candidate in experimental psychology and the founder and director of Adapt for Education, a nonprofit helping young parents complete high school and transition into post-secondary education or training. His SSHRC-funded doctoral research explores the lifelong outcomes of teen parenthood and develops evidence-based strategies to support young families, and his broad range of volunteer contributions spans academic, social, and community-based initiatives supporting marginalized communities.
Natasha J. Vatcher's (BSc'22) commitment to community service is exemplified by her decade-long sustainable project providing knitted hats to people experiencing homelessness, which earned her the Rising Youth Community Service Grant; her volunteerism on the Opal Fredericton board improving rural family access to specialized services; and her work founding UNBCares during her time as an undergraduate student.
Doug L. Johnson (BScCE'74, MScCE'79) has been a passionate advocate of UNB for 50 years as the driving force behind the Civil Engineering Class of 1974. Doug has led the organization of class reunions every five years and the establishment of a class scholarship for UNB engineering students, which will now provide two scholarships of $1,000 per year, and has continued to tirelessly encourage class fundraising efforts.
The UNB Alumni Ottawa Chapter Network is one of the association's oldest and most active chapters. Led by a dedicated group of volunteer leaders, the chapter committee is committed to fostering connections and contributing to the life of the university through several annual alumni events, fundraising for the Ottawa Alumni Chapter Thomas Foulkes Sr. Scholarship, and serving as community contacts for alumni who are new to the Ottawa region.
Nominations for distinguished UNB grads fall into the following award categories:
The Alumni Award of Distinction recognizes the significant contributions made by UNB alumni in their local communities and beyond.
Alumni are recognized for truly outstanding achievements that may have earned them regional, national or international recognition or prominence through service to humanity; their professions and/or volunteer organizations; community service; advancement of knowledge; or service to the University of New Brunswick and/or the Associated Alumni. (Up to five recipients per year.)
The Young Alumni Achievement Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of University of New Brunswick alumni 35 years of age or younger.
Young alumni are recognized for truly outstanding achievements that may have earned them regional, national or international recognition or prominence through service to humanity; their professions and/or volunteer organizations; community service; advancement of knowledge; or service to the University of New Brunswick and/or the Associated Alumni. (Up to five recipients per year.)
The Alumni Group of the Year Award is presented to a recognized Associated Alumni group. To be considered for the award, the group must have met one or more of the following:
The Volunteer of the Year is presented to an alumni volunteer who has contributed to the University and/or the Associated Alumni either as a member of an alumni group or individually.
To be considered for the award, the nominee:
The Alumni Office also recognizes individuals who did not attend UNB but have contributed to the University of New Brunswick and/or the UNB Associated Alumni in a significant way. These individuals are given Honorary Alumni Memberships by the Associated Alumni.
