From naming Michael A. Meighen as the University’s new Chancellor in January to having two students earning Rhodes Scholarships in December, 2014 was yet another eventful year for McGill. As we head into the final weeks of 2014, the Reporter looks back on the year that was, highlighting some of the key happenings over the past 12 months in words and pictures.

January

• 

  Sonenberg wins prestigious Wolf Prize

• Meighen named McGill’s 19th Chancellor
• A big night at the Grammys

  McGillians win big at the Grammys, with four grads taking home the hardware

• Troubled waters: World’s groundwater increasingly at risk
• Mac Farm’s milk is cream of the crop once again

  For the third time in four years, the Agropur Cooperative declared Mac Farm’s milk as regional champion in its Club de l’Excellence.

• Dr. Walter C. Willett wins Bloomberg Manulife Prize
• McGill HPV study: Does vaccinating one sexual partner also benefit the other?

February

• McGill Savoy Society marks its 50th anniversary
• For 6th straight year, McGill named a Top Employer once again
• Simon Gravel, Professor in the Dept.of Human Genetics, awarded Sloan Fellowship
• Symposium celebrates legacy of Claude Ryan
• Brenda Milner shares $1-million Dan David Prize 
• McGill’s Daoust celebrates hockey gold by sleeping wrapped in Canadian flag

• McGill grad Babcock shows his alma maters as Canada strikes Olympic gold, again 
• In the Zone: Mentoring program builds strong ties within the Montreal community

  SEDE’s Homework Zone program provides after school homework help, workshops and mentoring to local elementary school children.

• Three McGill researchers awarded NSERC national prizes 
• McGill holds forum on sexual assault and consent

March

• “Open, connected and purposeful”

  In her major address to the community, Principal Suzanne Fortier outlined five priority areas for the coming years — and specific actions for realizing “a vision for McGill that comes from this community and belongs to this community.”

• Martlets conquer Carabins in double OT to win 4th CIS hockey title

• Braving the elements for a good cause

  A group of McGill students live outside for five days to raise money for local charities and to raise awareness of the plight of Canada’s homeless people.

• Major genetic breakthrough made in rare form of ovarian cancer
• Courtney Ayukawa, elected President of the Students’ Society of McGill University
• Play it again, Sam: How the brain recognizes familiar music

  Study by Prof. Caroline Palmer of the Department of Psychology sheds new light on how humans perceive and produce sounds, and may pave the way for investigations into whether motor learning could improve or protect memory or reduce cognitive impairment in aging populations.

• Lionel Smith Awarded 2014 Killam Fellowship
• Bravo! McGill celebrates top researchers 
• You are what you eat, so why not eat super food?

  Nutritionist Monique Lauzon runs down the Perfect 10 super foods for March Nutrition Month.

• McGill’s Clément-Heydra named CIS women’s hockey player of the year 
• Is there life on Mars? McGill researcher on team to find out

  April

• McGill awarded eight new Canada Research Chairs
• The McGill dozen in the National Assembly

  An even dozen alumni populate both sides of the National Assembly following this spring’s provincial election.

• McGill celebrates its own at fourth annual Catalyst Awards for Sustainability
• Researchers land $3.5-million DFAT grant to improve health and agriculture in Ghana 
• Budget Book FY2015 is approved by the Board of Governors 
• Two McGill researchers receive $500,000 grants to find innovative uses for carbon
• Odds that global warming is due to natural factors: slim to none  
• Matt Dobbs wins 2014 Herzberg Medal 
• Paying closer attention to attention

  McGill researchers suggest that attention problems may be over-reported in children with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder.

• Major watermain work begins on McTavish St.

  The City of Montreal begins project to replace water and sewer lines on McTavish St. – a project that is just now nearing completion.

• Researchers garner grants from Canadian Cancer Society
• McGill athletes of the year announced at annual sports awards gala

May

• Guy Rouleau awarded major medical prize

  Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital was awarded the Prix d’excellence 2014 by the Collège des médecins du Québec, for his outstanding contributions to neurogenetics and medicine.

• Brenda Milner awarded prestigious Kavli Prize in Neuroscience
• McGill nurses turn hope into action 
• McGill Nurses for Highlands Hope’s project receives Grand Challenges Canada funding for HIV peer education program in Tanzania

• The amazing mace

  When the Principal of the University of Edinburgh discovered that McGill didn’t have a mace, he put the students in his School of Design to work. The finely crafted fruit of their creativity made its McGill debut during Spring Convocation Ceremonies.

• Prime Minister announces $3.7M funding for brain research 
• Dr. Alan Evans and Dr. Nahum Sonenberg receive over $3.7 million for research focusing on autism spectrum disorders and fragile-x syndrome
• McGill researchers receive $3.3 million in Government of Canada funding
• Roderick Macdonald awarded the McGill University Medal for Exceptional Academic Achievement 
• McGill medical student Laurent Duvernay-Tardif drafted by NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs 
• Outstanding emerging researchers get new Principal’s Prize

June

• In their words: Convocation Honorary Doctorates have their say

  Videos of the respective Spring Convocation address of each Honorary Doctorate.

• 

  Goodman Gala raises $2.5 million for Cancer Centre

•  Severe weather forces evacuation of the Convocation tent during the Arts Ceremony
• Roderick A. Macdonald passes away
• Bold ideas take flight at McGill Dobson Cup

  Four teams are crowned victors of the 2014 McGill Dobson Cup, the annual start-up competition hosted by the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship at the Desautels Faculty of Management.

• Ellen Aitken passes away 
• International study yields important clues to the genetics of epilepsy

  An international team of researchers led by Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital discovers significant genetic component of Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy, the most common form of epilepsy.

• McGill grad Clément Gascon joins Supreme Court
• Judges sweet on McGill’s unique dessert

  A sorbet-like dessert developed by a team of 16 Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry students, finished third in the prestigious Institute of Food Technologist Students’ Association’s annual Food Product Development Competition.

• McGill receives $25 million from NSERC for discovery research projects

July

• McGill profs among ‘Most Influential Scientific Minds’

  Professors Chao-Jun Li and Alan Evans are included in Thomson Reuters’ 2014 list of the world’s hottest researchers.

• 

  McGill team wins for tomato event

  McGill’s Student Housing and Hospitality Services team captured the 2014 Canadian College and University Food Service Association’s Shine Award last Saturday for the 2013 Tomato Fiesta on the lower campus.

• Dilson Rassier named new Dean of the Faculty of Education 
• Scientists find key piece in brain tumour puzzle
• Nico Trocmé named new Director of School of Social Work
• 11 McGillians named to Order of Canada
• August

• 

  Alan Evans awarded prestigious Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize 

• Speedier diagnosis of diseases such as cancer likely thanks to new DNA analysis technique 
• Rosalind Goodman loses battle with cancer
• McGill students pull in top scholarships

  Fifteen graduate students win prestigious Vanier Graduate Scholarships and two post-doctoral fellows receive Banting Fellowships.

• McGill’s Foster helps Canada win gold at FISU rugby sevens world championship 

September

• 

  Principal Fortier ushers in new academic year with block party 

  For the second-straight year, Principal Suzanne Fortier hosted a pan-McGill lunch for hundreds of people in the square facing the James Administration building to celebrate the beginning of the new academic year.

• Frosh 2.0 emphasized safety and respect while still having fun 
• First-ever Aboriginal Homecoming event headlines Indigenous Awareness Week 
• McGill maintains Top-25 place in QS rankings 
• Behemoth brownie serves up a whole lot of smiles

  4,419-pound monster is world’s largest brownie.

• SSHRC grants fuel researchers to tune of $6.8 million

  Three innovative research partnerships at McGill have received significant long-term investments from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

• State-of-the-art facility will improve Dentistry’s synergy, outreach programs
• McGill’s Faculty of Dentistry inaugurates its brand new facility located at 2001 McGill College Ave., across from the Roddick Gates.
• McGill instrumental in launching Indigenous initiative

  The University plays an important role in the establishment of Canadians For a New Partnership (CFNP), an initiative looking to strengthen ties between Indigenous People and Canadian society.

• Chemical Engineering prof Dimitrios Berk is named new Ombudsperson for Students 
• Philippe Gros awarded McLaughlin Medal from Royal Society of Canada
• Dr. Robin Rogers, world-renowned green chemist, joins McGill
• McGill responds to Heartbleed vulnerability

• 

  Myriam Denov awarded prestigious Trudeau Fellowship 

• Microplastic pollution discovered in St. Lawrence River sediments
• MISC turns 20 in style with September symposium
• McGill grad Brian Gallant wins New Brunswick election, is Canada’s youngest premier
• MISC to launch fledgling Minor Undergraduate Program in Indigenous Studies

October

• 

  McGill graduate John O’Keefe wins Nobel Prize in medicine

  McGill alumnus John O’Keefe was named co-winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize in medicine, for his contribution to the discovery of cells that constitute the brain’s ‘inner GPS,’ which makes it possible to orient ourselves in space.

• Royal Society kudos for seven McGillians

  The Royal Society of Canada honours seven McGill researchers for their outstanding contributions to the scientific research and the pursuit of new knowledge.

• McGill places 39 in THE world rankings 
• Community Engagement Day: McGill community pitches in

  On Oct. 2, some 550 members of the McGill community took part in the University’s third annual Community Engagement Day.

• On the frontlines in the Ebola crisis

  Médecins Sans Frontières and the McGill grad who leads it play a vital role in combating the Ebola crisis in West Africa

• $3 million gift creates Chair in pharmacoepidemiology

  As McGill announces the creation of the Albert Boehringer I Chair in Pharmacoepidemiology, made possible through a $3 million gift from Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada), Ltd.

• Hiring freeze will help McGill keep salary-increase promises – Masi

  Imposing a hiring freeze for administrative staff at the University will help McGill to keep its promises and meet its obligations with regard to salary increases, while still respecting the provincial government’s demand that universities trim their administrative salary mass, Provost Anthony C. Masi told Open House forums on McGill’s financial situation.

• McGill marks a decade atop Maclean’s rankings
• Busty’s cups runneth over: Named top university band in Canada

  Busty and the Bass, a nine-member electrofunk band comprised entirely of musicians from the Jazz Performance program, win CBC’s Rock Your Campus contest.

• Consent campaign aims to heighten awareness across campus

  McGill launches its first #ConsentMcGill Campaign to increase understanding on campus of consent, as it applies to sexual activity and people’s day-to-day lives.

• John McCrae, poet and pathologist, inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
• Two McGill researchers receive IPaSS grants

  Prof. Claudia Mitchell and Prof. John Galaty are each awarded a grant under the International Partnership for Sustainable Societies, a $10 million initiative funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

• Osteoporosis treatment may also benefit breast cancer patients

• 

  Plucky comeback performance gives Chan Lee Golden Violin Prize

• Communications Officer Victoria Leenders-Cheng vying to be crowned Canada’s Smartest Person
• Two McGill athletes among CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadians
• $2.9M in funding to boost child and adolescent mental health research

  Thanks to a significant gift of $2.9M from the Irving Ludmer Family Foundation, hope is on the horizon through the expansion of a major collaboration to understand why some children are vulnerable to conditions like autism, attention deficit disorder and social anxiety, and what can be done to prevent these disorders before they take hold.

• McGill conquers Concordia, claims fourth national baseball crown

November

• Marc Weinstein honoured by fundraising community 
• McGill signs five agreements during China trip 

• 

  Salima Visram: As she grows, so grow the people around her

  International Development Studies undergraduate designs a solar backpack that allows children living without electricity in impoverished areas to pursue their studies after sunset.

• McGill student-athletes merit 17 scholarships at Quebec Foundation awards gala
• Lecturer and PhD student tests his mettle on iconic Jeopardy! quiz show
• Bass wins Cundill Prize for horrifying tale of Bangladesh genocide

  Gary Bass, author of The Blood Telegran: Nixon, Kissinger and a Forgotten Genocide, captures this year’s $75,000 Cundill Prize in Historical Literature at McGill.

• Ambitious novel nets grad a Giller

  McGill grad Sean Michaels wins the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Half the finalists are McGill grads

• McGill’s Paul Lasko, Michael Meaney among Prix du Québec winners
• Neither crisis mode nor complacency

  The Provost talks about the way forward from almost $5M funding cut by Quebec government.

• 

  Remembrance Day ceremonies held on downtown campus and at Macdonald Campus

• Study shows obesity may shorten life expectancy up to eight years 
• McGill celebrates top teachers at Fall Convocation
• Extraordinary employees feted at Convocation
• Sam Noumoff dies at 79

December 

• 

  Christopher Manfredi named Provost-designate 

• Two more for the Rhodes from McGill

  Joanna Klimczak, a student in International Management, and Benjamin Mappin-Kasirer, a student in the Faculty of Medicine, are awarded prestigious Rhodes Scholarships, bringing the number of McGillians who have won the legendary Rhodes Scholarship to 138.

• McGill offers condolences on the death of Jean Béliveau
• Chris Ragan on ‘ecofiscal’ policies for Canada

  Economics prof makes headlines across the country with the launch of Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, an independent group of 12 policy-savvy economists determined to promote fiscal changes that will benefit both the economy and the environment.

• McGill, Greek-Canadian community come together to strengthen Modern Greek Studies

  A $1.2-million gift to McGill from leaders of Canada’s Greek community strengthens Modern Greek research and scholarship at McGill and endows the University’s Phrixos B. Papachristidis Chair in Modern Greek and Greek-Canadian Studies in perpetuity.

• Making a difference for Montreal’s homeless

  Student club donates over 300 pairs of socks to Welcome Hall Men’s Mission and Our 2nd Home Shelter.

• McGill-Centraide campaign surpasses $425,000 goal 
• Dr. David J.A. Jenkins named 2014 winner of Bloomberg Manulife Prize

  $50,000 prize goes to inventor of the glycemic index and inspiration behind low-cholesterol diets.

• Legendary Quebec broadcaster Michelle Tisseyre dies at 96

  Tisseyre enrolled at McGill in 1936, earned her degree 70 years later.