Class of 1971

Area of Accomplishments: Law & Government, Social Impacts

Marion Buller is a distinguished Indigenous jurist, lawyer, and advocate for human rights and reconciliation in Canada. A member of the Mistawasis Nehiyawak First Nation in Saskatchewan, she made history in 1994 as the first Indigenous woman appointed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia. During her tenure, she established the First Nations Courts in 2006 and laid the groundwork for the Aboriginal Family Healing Court in 2016, integrating restorative justice principles into the legal system.

After retiring from the bench in 2016, Buller was appointed Chief Commissioner of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, where she led efforts to address systemic violence and discrimination. She has also served as President of the Indigenous Bar Association and held leadership roles with the BC Police Commission, BC Mediators’ Roster, and the Law Courts Education Society. Marion is now practicing law with the law firm, Miller Titlerle in Victoria, BC.

A proud alumna of East York Collegiate Institute (1971), and the University of Victoria, Buller earned both her BA in Anthropology (1975) and LLB (1987) there. In 2022, she was appointed Chancellor of the University of Victoria, becoming the first Indigenous person to hold the position.

Buller’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Order of Canada, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Rosemary Brown Award for Women, and the Vancouver YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Reconciliation in Action. She has also received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Thompson Rivers University and Lakehead University

https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/marion-buller

Last Attended 1968

Area of Accomplishments: Health & Medicine

Dr. Michael Wosnick (BSc, U of Toronto 1974; PhD, Queen's University, 1978) built a distinguished career advancing cancer research in Canada. He served as the inaugural Vice-President of Research for the Canadian Cancer Society and founding Scientific Director of the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, overseeing a $50 million annual research portfolio. Prior to this, he spent 17 years with the National Cancer Institute of Canada, including 7 years as Executive Director, where he modernized research programs and implemented strategic reforms. Earlier in his career, he was founding Director of Neuroscience Research at Allelix Biopharmaceuticals, leading international studies on human nervous system receptor signaling. A molecular biologist by training, Dr. Wosnick was also a sought-after public speaker, delivering over 100 talks on cancer research across Canada. Since retiring in 2012, he has continued serving on numerous boards and committees, maintaining his commitment to advancing medical research and public health.

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Medical Research Council of Canada

Research Award  

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research

Postgraduate Scholarship

National Research Council of Canada 

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Government of Ontario

Queen's University Graduate Awards

First Prize in Chemistry 

Awards of Merit

East York Collegiate Scholarship Fund 

First and Second Prize Winner

East York Schools Public Speaking Contest

Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (FAAAS), 2012

Engineering Medal, Research & Development Category, Professional Engineers Ontario, 2011

Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE), 2008

Canadian Materials Physics Medal, 2008

Fellow, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIAR), Nanoelectronics Program, 2006

Senior Fellow, Massey College at the University of Toronto, 2006

NSERC Synergy Award, 2005

Best Materials Paper Prize, Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly, 1995

Class of 1981

Area of Accomplishments: Education

BASc, MASc, PhD (Toronto)

Professor of Engineering University of Toronto

Former Head of Engineering Department

Internationally recognized pioneer in engineering knowledge/courses as it applies to Forensics

Highly published scientist

Class of 1978

Area of Accomplishments: Business & Entrepreneurship

Jim McDermid is a Senior Human Resource Executive with experience in global markets, both in developed and emerging economies. He held numerous Senior Level Vice President positions with Medtronic (a Fortune 100 company) before leaving to become the Chief HR Officer for another Medical Technology Company located in Atlanta. Jim’s passion is developing strategic HR plans that enhance employee engagement, improve organizational capacity, and creates winning cultures. In 2011 Jim introduced in house coaching for high potential employees and key leaders at Medtronic. Jim became certified as an internal Medtronic coach through CTI (Co-Active Training Institute) and worked with dozens of employees on their career development as well as existing teams to improve their group performance.  Since 2019, after retiring from Corporate life, Jim has successfully built an HR Consulting and Coaching practice. He is currently coaching many senior level managers on a variety of topics, including leadership presence and style, self awareness, purpose, balance and fulfillment.  In addition, Jim recently completed a six month program on Positive Intelligence (also known as mental fitness) to help leaders and teams successfully deal with life’s setbacks and disappointments with a positive state of mind.   Mental fitness enables employees to avoid getting “stuck”, which can easily lower morale and/or derail a career.   Jim’s extensive experience in strategic HR leadership and executive coaching is unique and delivers results.

- Memphis Leadership Foundation, Board member 2004-2006

- Keynote Speaker at America Chamber of Commerce, Ireland (April 2012); Pharmaceutical &

   Medical Device Talent Management (Oct. 2012)

- Conference Board, Performance Management Series (Feb 2013)

- Global Leader Program, Selected to attend top executive development program focused on

   Brazil market

- Wallin Leadership Award, Medtronic’s Top Leadership Award, selected by Executive 

   Committee, includes equity award.

- CEO Diversity & Inclusion Award, Selected by CEO for developing inclusive culture in 

  Spinal/Biologics. 

- Community Health Charities, National Board Member (www.healthcharities.org)

- Hamilton and District Labor Council Grant for graduate research in human and labor 

  relations

Nominated for Gemini Awards in 1987, 1992, 1994, and 1998. He won the award in 1987 and 1992.

Class of 1977

Area of Accomplishments: Arts & Entertainment

Mark started working at CKFH at the age of 17 on the Bob McCowan radio show. He went on to be the first Producer of Global Sportsline - the first 30 minute television show on sports in the world. He moved to Hockey Night in Canada and then to Molstar Entertainment - always the Executive Producer for the Leafs hockey team. He moved to Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in the early 2000's and then onto Sportsnet - still working exclusively with the Leafs. He retired in 2023, after 48 years in the entertainment business. He has been awarded two Geminis, covered the Wayne Gretzky tour in Russia, the Asian Games in Indonesia, the Commonwealth Games, three winter Olympics, and 13 Stanley Cup Finals.