The Agnes Macphail Award is an annual award that recognizes an individual(s) from the East York community who has exemplified the causes that Agnes Macphail championed in her long and distinguished career.
Agnes Campbell Macphail (1890-1954) was once described as “the most important woman in public life that Canada has produced in the 20th century.”
In 1921, Agnes Macphail blazed a path for women as the first female to be elected to the federal House of Commons. In 1943, she became the first woman elected and sworn to sit in the Legislative Assembly, representing York East (which included the Borough of East York and the surrounding rural area). For further information about her life and accomplishments, please visit the Related Links section on this page.
On March 24, 1993, former East York Mayor Michael Prue proclaimed the first annual Agnes Macphail Day in the Borough of East York, to honour the 50th anniversary of her election to the Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park.
In addition to the Agnes Macphail Award, her legacy is recognized across Toronto with the naming of : Agnes Macphail Public School, Agnes Macphail Square, Macphail Avenue, and the Agnes Macphail House, which has been designated as a property of cultural heritage value under the Ontario Heritage Act.
In 2017, as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary, her image was featured on a $10 bill. The 100th anniversary of Agnes Macphail’s election to Federal Parliament was commemorated in 2021.
The Agnes Macphail Award was established in January 1994 by the former Borough of the East York Council. The award recognizes the connection of the East York community to the causes Agnes Macphail championed in her long and distinguished career. The recipient is recommended to Toronto City Council by the East York Agnes Macphail Recognition Committee.
The annual award is presented to an East York resident who has made outstanding contributions as a volunteer in one or more of the following areas:
The nominee must be a resident of the former Borough of East York who lives by Agnes’ motto, “Think Globally, Act Locally”.
Nominees from previous years are eligible for re-nomination. Previous recipients are ineligible. The nomination period for the 2026 Agnes Macphail Award is now closed.
The recipient of the 2026 Agnes Macphail Award is Dr. Blair Bigham.
Dr. Blair Bigham has built his career “thinking locally and acting globally”, bringing national platforms and international experience directly to bear on the needs, challenges and voices of his local community. An emergency and critical care physician at Sunnybrook Health Centre, educator and journalist, his work is deeply rooted in East Toronto and throughout the city. He has consistently focused on fairness, dignity and accountability in systems that profoundly shape people’s lives with his insistence that equity and justice be visible, named and addressed.
His contributions as a volunteer, advocate and community leader span decades and reflect a sustained commitment to the values of Agnes Macphail.
The Agnes Macphail Award Ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2026. The Ceremony will take place at the East York Civic Centre, and the public is invited to attend. Please confirm your attendance at agnesmacphailaward@toronto.ca
The recipient will be recognized with a medal, framed certificate of recognition and their portrait on an honour wall in the East York Civic Centre along with previous recipients.
Donations to the Agnes Macphail Fund
Each year, the Agnes Macphail Fund receives donations from citizens to a registered charity of the recipient’s choice, which is presented by the Award recipient at the ceremony.
Please send your contribution to the Agnes Macphail Fund to:
c/o The East York Foundation
50 Merritt Road
East York, ON M4B 3K6
A charitable income tax receipt will be issued for donations over $20.
| Award Recipient | Year |
|---|---|
| Jason Ash | 2025 |
| Susan Scandiffio | 2024 |
| Shakhlo Sharipova | 2023 |
| Kam Babulal | 2022 |
| Paula Davies | 2020** |
| Raymond White | 2020** |
| Karen Fraser | 2019 |
| Carol Burtin Fripp | 2018 |
| Rev. Jim Parker | 2017 |
| Patrick Rocca | 2016 |
| Muhammad Masood Alam | 2015 |
| Sheila Lacroix | 2014 |
| Alan Redway | 2013 |
| Alice Carriman | 2012 |
| John Carter | 2011 |
| Bill Pashby | 2010 |
| Patricia Moore | 2009 |
| Geoff Kettel | 2008 |
| Lorna Krawchuk | 2007 |
| Shamsh Kara | 2006 |
| George Hurst | 2005 |
| Vi Thompson | 2004 |
| Dorothy Rivers-Moore | 2003 |
| Bob Hart | 2002 |
| Grace Stephens | 2001 |
| Audrey Tobias | 2000 |
| Barbara Thompson | 1999 |
| Elisabeth and Robert Lister | 1998 |
| Ruth Goldhar | 1997 |
| Marjorie Lewsey | 1996 |
| Eileen Morris Adams | 1995 |
| J. Edna Beange | 1994 |
**The 2020 Award Recipients were chosen in 2020 and their awards were presented in 2021.