Jack C. (’69) and Faye MacDonald Bursary

Established in 2022 by Jack and Faye MacDonald, this bursary is awarded on a renewable basis to a student from the Halifax Regional Municipality, preferably Halifax West High School, who demonstrates financial need. The recipient shows leadership skills in school or the community through volunteer or extra-curricular activities.

Jack MacDonald grew up in Halifax, graduating from Halifax West High School in 1965. He attended Acadia University, studying math and engineering and worked in the Dining Hall where he got a taste of the hospitality industry. His executive career began in 1970 with Saga Foods, the caterer at Acadia – Jack worked for Saga while he was a student and worked his way up to the role of President in Canada. He has held a number of senior executive positions throughout his career – Co-president at Clearwater Seafoods Limited, CEO of Marriott Corporation’s Canadian Division, President of MDS Heath Group’s Communicare Division, and finally Compass Group Canada & ESS North America where he was CEO and Chair until his retirement in 2012.

Jack has served on the Boards of the Toronto Zoo Campaign “Wild for Life”, the Canadian Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame, the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research, the President’s Advisory Council for Humber College, the Colorectal Screening Initiative Foundation and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. He was also a member of the Province of Ontario Investment and Trade Advisory Council. A non-executive Director of Sienna Senior Living from 2011 to 2022, Jack is also the Board Chair of the Micco Group of Companies since 2018. He has an honorary Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Humber College and is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors program at the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto).