2000 Bryden Award Winners

Each year, York celebrates alumni who attained extraordinary achievements and made remarkable contributions to York and to their communities.

The '00 Bryden Alumni Award recipients are:

The history of the Bryden Awards

Past Recipients

• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2001

Contribution Category

John Bankes (LLB/MBA '77) has served as a dedicated volunteer and consummate supporter of York University for the past quarter-century.

He was first appointed to the York University Board of Governors in 1974 as a student member of the Board and has served continuously since 1985.  He is the longest serving member of the acting York University Board of Governors.

Mr. Bankes has also served as an executive member of the York University Alumni Association (YUAA) for over 15 years.

In 1995 he served as Co-Chair of the National Campaign for York University, which raised over $108 million in student financial aid in only four years.  Mr. Bankes has personally funded a prestigious Governors' Award of Distinction scholarship, in addition to several other bursaries, awards and fundraising initiatives.

Mr. Bankes is the Managing Director of Artemis Management Group Incorporated and Chair of the Board of Minacs Worldwide.  He has achieved a proven international track record for structuring and marketing sophisticated corporate and government financing platforms, and is highly respected in the field of mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Bankes graduated from York University in 1977 with an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School and an M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business (then, Faculty of Administrative Studies). He is a sessional lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School and teaches an advanced corporate law seminar to students in their final year of York's joint LL.B/M.B.A. Program.

Friend Category

Seymour Schulich is York University's leading philanthropist and one of its most loyal friends.

In appreciation for his 1995 gift of $15,000,000, York University's business faculty was renamed the Schulich School of Business.  It is now the largest graduate management school in Canada and one in every three MBA's entering the Ontario work force is a Schulich graduate.

Prior to his donation to the business school, Mr. Schulich established a scholarship endowment for the Schulich Award for Entrepreneurship - York University.  Mr. Schulich's many contributions have made possible the creation of scholarships, academic chairs and teaching awards that will benefit the intellectual resource base of this country for decades.

In his professional life Mr. Schulich is the Chairman and CEO of Franco-Nevada Mines Corporation Limited and Chairman of Euro-Nevada Mining Corporation Limited, two gold royalty companies.  He has over 30 years of experience in the natural resource development industry having served on the boards of numerous petroleum and mining companies.

Mr. Schulich has served on the boards of Mount Sinai Hospital, Junior Achievement of Canada and the World Gold Council.  He was appointed to the York University Board of Governors in 1996 and is currently a member of the Board's Investment Committee.
Mr. Schulich is also a recipient of the Order of Canada.

Achievement Category

Honourable David Collenette (BA '69) The first Member of Parliament and first federal cabinet minister to graduate from York University, the Honourable David Collenette is well known by his alma mater as a friend and role model for students.

David Collenette was first elected in 1974 and subsequently re-elected in 1980, 1993, and 1997.  In June 1997, he was appointed Minister of Transport where he continued the reorganization of the department, steered the Canada Marine Act through Parliament, and began the revitalization of Via Rail.

In November 1993, Mr. Collenette was appointed Minister of National Defence and Veterans Affairs.  In this senior position he oversaw successful Canadian peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the former Yugoslavia, the publication of the 1994 Defence White Paper, and set into motion a process to reform and re-new the Canadian Armed Forces.
In previous parliaments, Mr. Collenette served as Minister of State (Multiculturalism), Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Privy Council, Government House Leader, as well as Postmaster General.

Before his 1993 election, Mr. Collenette was Executive Vice-President of Mandrake Management Consultants of Toronto.  He has also worked in both the life insurance and plastics industries.

Mr. Collenette graduated from York University's Glendon College in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Leadership Category

Margot Franssen (BA '79) President and Partner of The Body Shop Canada, leads a national retailing team that sells skin care, hair care, and cosmetics products that aren't tested on animals and don't exploit communities or the environment.  With 121 shops across the country, The Body Shop is recognized for its ethical business practices and its commitment to profits with principles.

Since 1994, The Body Shop Canada has been working to help stop violence against women through its national public awareness and fundraising campaigns.  Thanks to customer support, The Body Shop has already raised more than $500,000 for violence prevention and recovery programs.  The Body Shop's STOP Violence Against Women campaign was also honoured with the Grand Award from the United Nations for effectively addressing an issue of vital concern to the UN.

In 1995, Ms. Franssen was an invited participant in the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.  She presented the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights with more than 1 million signatures from around the world, calling for all nations to recognize that "Women's Rights are Human Rights".

Ms. Franssen graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979.  In 1991 she was appointed to the York University Board of Governors.  She is a member of the University Advancement Committee and served as Co-Chair of the recent National Campaign for York University which raised over $108 million in just four years to provide student financial aid.

Bryden Awards History

These awards are inspired by Bruce Bryden (BA ’64), who was an exceptionally committed and influential leader at York. He was a member of our first undergrad class and held several prestigious positions, including founding president of the York University Alumni Association and member of the Board of Governors. It is for his vision and exemplary leadership that we named these awards after him..