Distinguished Community Service Award

The Distinguished Community Service Award is presented to a member of the Saint Mary's University Alumni Association who has made an outstanding contribution to their community and or to Saint Mary’s.

All University employees and members of the Saint Mary's University Alumni Association may submit a one-page letter of recommendation for a candidate, illustrating their suitability for this award. A completed Alumni Awards Nomination Form must accompany the letter.

Selection Candidates are considered annually by the Saint Mary's University Alumni Association's Awards & Nomination Committee.

TimelineThe deadline to nominate a candidate for the 2022 Distinguished Community Service Award is September 23, 2022.

2022 Recipients The Honourable Dr. Mayann Francis BA'72 DCL'12, ONS

The Honourable Dr. Mayann Francis, ONS served as Lieutenant Governor for the province of Nova Scotia, from 2006-2012. She was the first African Nova Scotian and second woman to be appointed as the vice regal representative. She is the second African Canadian to be appointed Lieutenant Governor in Canada.

Dr. Francis served from 2015-2020 as the first Distinguished Public Service Fellow, in the Faculty of Management, School of Public Administration at Dalhousie University.

In December 2020, she was appointed as the Dean’s Warden for The Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax, NS.

She is the recipient of seven Honorary Degrees and an Honorary Diploma, including a Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa from Saint Mary’s University. Dr. Francis graduated from St. Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Masters in Public Administration from New York University. In addition to her list of credentials, Dr. Francis can add author.

Dr. Francis has served in many leadership roles including Chair of the Board for the Atlantic School of Theology. She is also the recipient of many awards. On September 21, 2022, she was awarded The Frank McKenna Award for leadership in Public Policy and August 4th 2022 she received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award.

Nimbus Publishing published her first children’s book, “Mayann’s Train Ride” in October 2015, which was translated into French in 2018. Her memoir, Mayann Francis, An Honourable Life, was released in June 2019 and was listed in The Hill Times’ list of 100 best non-fiction books in 2019. Her memoir was also short listed for The Evelyn Richardson Non-Fiction Award in June 2020.

Her second children’s book, “One Summer In Whitney Pier” was recently published (May 2022) by Nimbus. The book launch took place on June 4.

Alan Maingot DipENG'81

Alan attended Saint Mary’s University as an international student and chose engineering as a diverse scientific field with a wide array of career options. He would later graduate with a Diploma in Engineering in 1981.

After graduation, Alan joined Procter & Gamble, working his way up to senior leadership positions in the beauty, paper and oral care fields. He credits his time at Saint Mary’s University, and the mentorship he received from faculty, notably Dr. Young, for shaping his career and putting him firmly on the path to success.

Alain co-created the Human Energy Collaborative, which seeks to empower individuals and organizations to reimagine ways of working that increase collaboration, satisfaction, positive impact, and performance. Through workshops and seminars, Maingot and his team teach executives, middle managers and employees how to unleash the potential of themselves and others using “mindful inclusion” and “authentic inclusive leadership,” and collaboration within their companies. 

Now a (mostly) retired snowbird, Alan and his wife, Carol, divide their time between the Caribbean, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Halifax. A native Haligonian, Carol was the main reason why staying in Halifax was so important to Maingot. They have two children and several grandchildren.

Alain is active in the community and is committed to student success at Saint Mary’s.

Past Recipients

2021: Floyd Kane BA’92
2020: Senator Wilfred P. Moore QC BComm’64 LLD’07
2019: Karen Oldfield, QC BA'82
2018: James "Skip" Oliver BA'67 LLD'02
2017: Dr. Michael Durland BComm'87 DComm'15 and Catherine Durland BComm'87
2016: Richard Butler BA'69 and Marsha Sobey BEd'82
2015: Cassandra Dorrington and Gerald Walsh
2014: Tom Lee and Claire Miller
2013: Jane Roy
2012: Scott Norton, Fred George and Alex Handyside
2011: David McKeage, Dr. Gerald P. Reardon
2010: Dr. John A. P. Sullivan and Fr. George Leach
2009: Judith Richardson and Wendy Brookhouse
2008: Paul J. Dyer
2005: Carol MacLean & Richard H. “Dick” MacLean
2004: George C. Moffatt
2003: Hector P. Muise and Dr. John C. Young
2002: Angela Vecchio-Ozmon and Kevin Cleary
2001: Allister Byrne
2000 Elizabeth Ozmon & Dr. Kenneth L. Ozmon
1999: Burris Devanney and Terence Donahoe
1998: Paul Goodman
1997: Joseph Bishara
1995-96: Terry Kelly
1993-94: Fred MacGillivray
1992: Karen Henderson
1991: J. Philip Vaughan
1990: Ronald Downie
1989: Paul Gouett
1988: Elizabeth Chard
1986: Harold Beazley
1985: Edmund Morris
1984: Senator Richard Donahoe

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