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UM’s Jory Thomas-Blanchard named McCall MacBain Scholar for Leadership Potential

The Environmental Design student is one of 20 Canadians selected to join the McCall MacBain Scholars.

Headshot of Jory Thomas-Blanchard with a white background in a landscape format
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Jory Thomas-Blanchard, McCall MacBain Scholarship winner. Photo credit: Alex Tran
Jory Thomas-Blanchard, McCall MacBain Scholarship winner. Photo credit: Alex Tran
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes

Jory is one of three recipients from the Prairies and the only recipient from Manitoba joining the sixth cohort of McCall Macbain Scholars at McGill University.

Established with a historic $200 million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies. More than 700 Canadian students applied for the opportunity, and the top 150 participated in the first round of interviews across the country and online. Afterwards, 91 finalists were invited to attend final interviews in Montreal in March.

The University of Manitoba has fostered resilience, drive, and spirit in me that have helped me make it to where I am today.

Jory Thomas-Blanchard

“I unexpectedly received the call when I was in class, in which I ran out of the room just to answer. While doing so, a pair of Canadian Geese were fighting each other, which led me to move again! When I heard I was a recipient of the scholarship, I was beaming! Although I couldn't share the moment with anyone around me (maybe except the geese), I left feeling happier than ever,” said Jory.

The scholarship covers tuition, living stipends, relocation, mentorship, coaching, and leadership program activities.

“This scholarship means more than words could express. It has changed my life and allowed me to live a future I could have only dreamt of,” she added. “Not only will this scholarship give me the opportunity to study at McGill, but it will also allow me to grow as a leader and be a part of a strong community while in graduate studies.”

Recipients were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.

While studying Environmental Design at the University of Manitoba, Jory works as a youth care support worker in a group home and freelances as a creative/strategic consultant. She is the co-president of the Indigenous Design and Planning Students' Association and the vice president of the Student Architectural Society.

Jory working with fellow environmental design students at a drafting table.
Jory working with fellow environmental design students at a drafting table.

A passionate knowledge keeper, Jory is also coordinating an Indigenous Time Capsule with the Indigenous Student Centre. She led a project creating garden boxes for Indigenous medicines and programming in collaboration with Ombishkaawak Migiziwak (Rising Eagles), a youth safe space in Winnipeg.

Jory also worked to restart the Métis University Students' Association as co-president. This past year, she won an award for Indigenous leadership on campus.

Jory at a table with students on the south riverbank of UM's Fort Garry Campus
Jory at a table with students on the south riverbank of UM's Fort Garry Campus

“The University of Manitoba has fostered resilience, drive, and spirit in me that have helped me make it to where I am today. I have been taught how to work hard, take criticism, and dream big, which has prepared me for this next stage of my career,” she said.

As a McCall MacBain Scholar, Jory will enter the Master of Urban Planning program at McGill.

“I hope to further engage with community at an academic level, specifically in Urban Planning. I want to understand and learn how citizens can engage with urban planning practices, in order to make our processes as planners more oriented toward people, as opposed to systems.”

“These scholarships go beyond financial support. They’re about investing in the leadership potential of individuals who dare to pursue unconventional paths and care deeply about improving the lives of others,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill.

Jory in front of the architecture building and statue on the pedway.
Jory in front of the architecture building and statue on the pedway.

“Every McCall MacBain Scholar has participated in six different interviews to earn this opportunity,” said Natasha Sawh, CEO of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “In September, they will join a diverse, interdisciplinary network of graduate students committed to bringing people together and creating meaningful change.”

Jory is one of two University of Manitoba students honoured this year. As a national finalist, Mechanical Engineering student Perry Cheung earned a $10,000 McCall MacBain Finalist Award for studies at McGill.

Applications will open in June 2026 for the 2027 cohort. Learn more about the McCall MacBain Scholarships on their website.

Boilerplate: empowering learners

At UM, we encourage life-long curiosity while providing tools – inside and outside the classroom – to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Empowering learners is one of the strategic themes you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.