Barry Avrich, Stephan Crétier, Bob Dhillon, Katherine Lee, Joanna Rotenberg and Darryl White To Be Honoured with 2025 International Horatio Alger Award

–7^th annual Excellence Gala to be held November 12, 2025 at the Fairmont Royal York–

TORONTO, June 16, 2025 /CNW/ - The Horatio Alger Association of Canada is pleased to announce that it will honour six exceptional business, civic and cultural leaders with the International Horatio Alger Award at its November 12, 2025 Excellence Gala. This year's recipients are:

• Barry Avrich, CEO, BT/A Advertising and Melbar Entertainment Group
• Stephan Crétier, Founder, Chairman, President & CEO, GardaWorld 
• Bob Dhillon, President & CEO, Mainstreet Equity Corp.
• Katherine Lee, Corporate Director, CEO of GE Capital Canada (Retired)
• Joanna Rotenberg, Managing Director of Advice and Wealth Management, Vanguard
• Darryl White, Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group

These 2025 International Horatio Alger Award recipients will be celebrated for their lifetime achievements on November 12, 2025, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The event will be hosted by the Horatio Alger Association of Canada's Board of Directors, including President Prem Watsa, President Emeritus Dominic D'Alessandro, Vice Presidents Jay S. Hennick, the Rt. Hon. David Johnston, Dr. Rola Dagher, Adam Waterous and Treasurer Rick Waugh. All funds raised will go toward supporting the Horatio Alger Association's scholarship programs and support services. Enquiries regarding sponsoring the Gala should be directed to [email protected].

"Reaching our 7th Excellence Gala marks a significant milestone for our Association. We are honoured to recognize six exemplary Canadian leaders—Barry Avrich, Stephan Crétier, Bob Dhillon, Katherine Lee, Joanna Rotenberg, and Darryl White—whose journeys exemplify the transformative power of determination, resilience, and a positive outlook. Their success stories are living proof that hard work and a belief in oneself can surmount any challenge. Moreover, they embody the strength of Canada's free enterprise system, a vital engine that enables individuals from all backgrounds to realize the Canadian dream," said Prem Watsa, President of the Horatio Alger Association of Canada. "As the cornerstone fundraising event supporting our scholarship initiatives, the Excellence Gala is instrumental in our mission to cultivate the next generation of Canadian leaders. Today, the Horatio Alger Association of Canada awards more than 300 post-secondary scholarships annually to deserving students in every province and territory. Since 2012, we have awarded $17.5 million to over 2,200 remarkable young people from coast to coast to coast. Alongside financial support, scholars also benefit from mentorship, financial aid and academic counseling, and mental health support—resources that help them thrive at university and build successful careers."

The Horatio Alger Association will also be hosting its Scholars Conference from November 11 to 13, in conjunction with the Excellence Gala.

The Horatio Association of Canada has two functions. First, it recognizes Canadians who have demonstrated perseverance and achieved great success in life. These individuals are awarded lifetime membership in our organization. Second, the Association awards post-secondary scholarships to deserving young Canadians in every province and territory. Since 2012, the Canadian Association has awarded $17.5 million to over 2,200 deserving students from coast to coast to coast. Scholarship recipients are also supported and mentored by the Association through services such as financial aid counselling, internships, and mental health support.

For more information about the Horatio Alger Association and its Member Class of 2024, please visit www.horatioalger.ca, or follow the Association on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the Horatio Alger Association of Canada
The Horatio Alger Association of Canada, the Canadian affiliate of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., is a charitable organization dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. The Association honours the achievements of outstanding individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity by bestowing to them the Horatio Alger Award and granting them lifetime membership into the Association. Through the generosity of Horatio Alger Members, the Horatio Alger Association of Canada awards scholarships annually to deserving young people in every province and territory.

Members of the Association include Alain Bouchard, Dominic D'Alessandro, Michael Bublé, Dr. Rola Dagher, Kap Dilawri, Victor Dodig, Murray Edwards, Darren Entwistle, Serge Godin, Wayne Gretzky, Jay S. Hennick, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Rebecca MacDonald, Bharat Masrani, the late G. Wallace F. McCain, Lorne Michaels, the late Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Jim Pattison, Tracy Robinson, Calin Rovinescu, Walter Schroeder, Gerald W. Schwartz, Isadore Sharp, Edward Sonshine, Prem Watsa, Rick Waugh and Adam Waterous. For more information, visit www.horatioalger.ca. The Association can also be found on Facebook and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Canada

Michael Eugenio, [email protected].