Alumna/Alumnus of the Year Award

The Alumna/Alumnus of the Year Award honours a Bishop’s graduate who has made a longstanding commitment and contribution to the University.

The Alumni Association Executive Committee has bestowed this award annually since 1967, with the exception of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year we were happy to give this award to Chad Schella ’94.

Alumnus of the Year

Chad Schella ’94 graduated from Bishop’s with an honours degree in Political Science. During his time at the University, he was an exceptionally engaged and respected student leader. He was named valedictorian of his graduating class and served two-terms as President of the Students’ Representative Council, demonstrating a strong commitment to student life and advocacy. In recognition of his character, leadership, and contributions to the B.U. community, Chad was awarded the Golden Mitre, the University’s highest non-academic honour bestowed by a popular vote of the graduating class.

Following his time at Bishop’s, Chad built a distinguished career spanning public affairs, government relations, and the private sector. He is currently Associate Vice-President, Government Relations at CIBC. Prior to this, he spent more than a decade with Canada Post, serving as both General Manager, Government and Community Affairs and Director, Government Affairs. Earlier in his career, Chad worked in federal politics, supporting two national political party leaders, before joining the Canadian Construction Association in Ottawa. He later expanded his experience in Toronto with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) and the pharmaceutical company Pro-Pharma, developing a strong foundation in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and public policy.

Chad’s professional path has consistently been shaped by a deep commitment to community impact. In 2003, he returned to Ottawa to work with the Ottawa Senators Foundation, where he played a key role in the creation, development, and opening of Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice—a pioneering pediatric palliative care facility. Following this achievement, he spent eight years with the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and continued his involvement with the Hospice as a founding Board Member for seven years. Today, he serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Queensway Carleton Hospital and Vice-Chair of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation, further reflecting his dedication to strengthening health care and community services. His contributions have been widely recognized, including being named to Bishop’s Top 10 After 10 and receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013.

Chad’s commitment to service is equally evident in his enduring connection to Bishop’s. As Co-Lead of the Ottawa Alumni Chapter, he plays an active role in building alumni engagement, frequently co-organizing events such as Ottawa Redblacks outings and Welcome Home celebrations. He has also contributed to the University through his involvement in the Leading the Way campaign and as a volunteer mentor in the JUMP Mentorship Program, supporting students as they transition into their careers. No matter where life and work have taken him, Chad has remained deeply committed to giving back—consistently investing his time, leadership, and energy to make his community stronger.

List of Past Winners

Inaugurated in 1967

1967    Cecil T. Teakle ’26*
1968    George W. Hall ’30*
1969    Fred G.S. Kelley ’48*
1970    C. Terrill Manning ’46*
1971    Robert A. Gordon ’60, DCL ’04
1972    A. Ray Almond ’27*
1973    Alex K. Paterson ’52, DCL ’74*
1974    J. Clem Brodeur ’44*
1975    Gavin G. Ross ’56*
1976    Bud McMorran ’60, DCL ’04*
1977    Douglas R. Cooper ’29*
1978    Glenn Higginbotham ’64
1979    Fred Kaufman ’46, DCL ’76*
1980    Dorothy Dutton ’20*
1981    Ab M. Echenberg ’73*
1982    David K. Bogert ’63
1983    A. Bruce Stavert ’61*
1984    Douglas A. Lloyd ’62*
1985    Tom ’69 and Rob ’73* Allen
1986    Ronald G. Perowne ’72
1987    Danny R. Lavallee ’79
1988    Conrad H. Harrington ’67, DCL ’98*
1989    William D. Anderson ’77*
1990    Philip E. Johnston ’59
1991    Joan E. Stadelman ’66
1992    Don S. Wells ’55*
1993    David A. Williams ’63, DCL ’96
1994    Christopher I.H. Nicholl DCL ’86*
1995    William I.M. Turner Jr. DCL ’87*
1996    Tom Godber ’85
1997    Jim ’57* and Di (Young) Ferrabee ’57*
1998    Richard Tomlinson ’43, DCL ’89*
1999    Eric Mills ’72
2000    Norman Webster ’62, DCL ’85*
2001    Bill MacDonald ’73
2002    Peter Dunn ’66
2003    Graham Moodie ’69
2004    Ron Kaulbach ’66
2005    Gary Chown ’74*
2006    Peter Davidson ’77*
2007    Elaine Roper ’78
2008    Rob Allatt ’93
2009    Peter Welsh ’64
2010    Nils Bodtker ’65
2011    Bob Goldberger ’79
2012    Kelly Murumets ’85
2013    George Hendy ’68
2014    Blair Shier ’79
2016    Cathy McLean ’82
2017    Nadia Martel ’90
2018    Tim Griffin ’71
2019    Jo-Anne Ryan ’83
2020    Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021    Bob Egan ’80
2022    Mark Saykaly ’72
2023    Jane Brydges ’95
2024    Stephen Lloyd ’89
2025    Bob Hall ’79
2025    Chad Schella ’94

*deceased