Coming together for community

Each year during Convocation ceremonies, Mount Royal University grants honorary doctors of law to inspiring leaders who share their stories and wisdom with the graduating classes.

To retain and build on that accumulated wisdom, on March 18 previous honorary degree recipients and members of the Mount Royal University community gathered for the first Community Builders Circle.

The idea for the Community Builders Circle began a year ago, when George Brookman was considering ways that the honorary degree recipients could come together for a shared purpose.

Brookman received an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2020, in recognition of his distinguished career as a businessman, passionate volunteer and city booster. Frequently described as a true Calgary builder and promoter, Brookman believes deeply in the power of people coming together for a common goal.

“Calgary is a truly unique city. It’s a city that brings people together and I think that there is nothing that Calgarians can’t accomplish,” Brookman says. “Community is more than being part of a city; it’s about the attitude.”

After receiving his honorary doctorate, Brookman knew he wanted to find a way to bring together that community and continue to find ways to engage with his fellow honoraries.

“We have a great community of people from MRU, and it’s always great to bring them back together.”

Brookman engaged with fellow honorary doctorate recipient Ann McCaig and Terry Kellam, associate vice-president, Development and Alumni Relations, to bring this idea to life.

“George Brookman and Ann McCaig embody what it means to be leaders in our community and to truly be champions and advocates for MRU, both to the institution and also to the community,” Kellam says. “George is known as ‘Mr. Calgary’ colloquially around town, and Ann's name is synonymous with giving back to our community through her efforts.”

As an advocate of advanced education and a well-known leader, McCaig was approached to help champion this initiative.

McCaig expressed that she is delighted to be part of the Community Builders Circle because it is an important initiative intended to remove financial barriers and ensure that all members of our community have the opportunity to consider and enjoy the benefits of post-secondary education.

“This is very important to me because I believe post-secondary education is one of the best ways to enable people to develop their potential and realize their own personal life goals, which always contributes to the betterment and quality of life of our community,” McCaig says. “As a member of the Community Builders Circle, I have the privilege and joy of raising awareness about the wonderful work of MRU, including why I would recommend MRU for post-secondary education to any and every prospective student.”

The inaugural gathering of the Community Builders Circle highlighted the shared vision of its founders, George Brookman and Ann McCaig, both of whom have been recognized for their significant contributions to Calgary. McCaig, in particular, emphasized the profound purpose of the initiative, noting, “There is something very exciting and meaningful about working together with others to realize a shared goal that you know is going to have a lasting, positive impact for others around you, and to me that is at the heart of being a community builder.

“I am looking forward to seeing the impact this initiative will have on MRU and the broader community, especially as we band together to ensure MRU’s programs and educational experiences are accessible to all.”

Through the Community Builders Circle, Mount Royal's esteemed honoraries will continue to actively build community together, leaving a lasting legacy for the University and the broader community.