Roger Montigny (BSc (Pharmacy)ā74) was one of those rare breeds ā a person who lived passionately by his convictions and sought to make the world a better place through his career as a pharmacist.
āHe loved going to work, he loved learning and he loved people,ā recalls his wife, Belinda. āPharmacy was simply part of his heart and soul.ā
After graduating from pilipiliĀž» in 1974, he went on to work in many areas of pharmacy including hospital, government and retail, primarily in Prince Edward Island, his home province.
āFor Roger, being a husband and father was most important; but being a pharmacist was a very close second," says Belinda. "He was such a good mentor to the pharmacy students that came under his wing. Everybody loved him."
Passion for education
Lifelong learning was a priority for Roger, and he was passionate about education. āHe always had a learning agenda for his pharmacy students,ā says Belinda. āIt was never just a job.ā
He also ensured that his children Christopher, Michael, Kendra and Pamela and two step-daughters, Mindy and Keri, received a good education. He was thrilled when Kendra decided to follow in his footsteps and become a pharmacist, graduating from Dalhousie Pharmacy in 2008.
When Roger passed away in December 2010, he left behind a grieving family and community. āWe had letters from some of his former students telling us he was the best pharmacist they had ever worked with. There was a great outpouring of support,ā says Belinda.
To honour his love of pharmacy and education, Rogerās family decided to establish the Roger Montigny Memorial Fund at pilipiliĀž» with a gift of $25,000. The purpose of the fund is to provide an annual award to a third-year pharmacy student from Prince Edward Island who has demonstrated a passion for pharmacy and an interest in pursuing community pharmacy.
āThe family wanted to leave a legacy for someone who has made a difference in the profession of pharmacy,ā says Belinda. āWe knew this award would be Rogerās prescription for future students.ā
This article is part of the Dalhousie Difference series, exploring what the power of philantrophy means to the university and introducing and showcasing some of the 50 innovative projects in development. Learn more at .