During a thirty-five-year career as a scientist with Environment Canada in Moncton and Sackville, Dr. Clair’s main research was aimed at understanding the effects of atmospheric pollution on freshwater and wetland ecosystems. This work included topics like acid rain, atmospheric mercury, reactive nitrogen and carbon cycling. He published over 140 research articles in refereed journals, book chapters, as well as technical reports for various national and international bodies over the years. He also led Canada-US research groups on mercury and acid rain pollution and was Environment Canada’s representative on the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Europe’s Working Group on Effects of Air Pollutants, as well as its Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen.
After retiring from Environment Canada, Tom also worked on an eighteen-month contract as Lead Scientist with the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association in Fort McMurray, Alberta, the agency responsible for atmospheric monitoring in the Alberta Oil Sands Region. He has since moved to Halifax and is an adjunct professor in Earth Sciences at Dalhousie University, working with a hydrology research group.
“None of this interesting work and life trajectory would have been possible without the O’Brien Foundation. I think very fondly of the people who made these opportunities available to me.” Tom Clair

Dr. Mylène Lachance-Grzela is a native of Hearst, a small Francophone community in Northeastern Ontario. After obtaining a BA in psychology from the University of Hearst, she completed a masters and a PhD in psychology at the University of Moncton. She received honourable mention in recognition of the quality of her masters and PhD theses at the University of Moncton. During the course of her higher education, she also benefited from important grants, including one from the O'Brien Foundation (2008) and two from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

After finishing her PhD in August 2011, Mylène was appointed assistant professor at the University of Moncton, where she teaches courses in Introduction to the Psychology of Human Development and Helping Relationships.  Her research interests are focused on the development of the young adult, and in particular on adjustment to the role of spouse or parent.  She has been published in scientific journals such as Journal of Family Psychology, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships and Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. Myène is also the author of several scientific publications that she has presented at national and international conferences. She holds a professional licence to practice psychology from the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick.

B.A., McGill
M.A., Université de Moncton
Ph.D., University of Calgary

Dr. Mélanie Méthot is Associate Professor of History at The University of Alberta, Augustana Campus in Camrose, Alberta.

Dr. Méthot teaches courses in Canadian History, Crime and Criminal Justice in Canada, Canadian Urban History, Women in Canadian History, Quebec History and Methods of Historical Research. Her current research interests are focused on Canadian Legal History. Mélanie has published on social reformers in academic journals such as the Urban History Review, Manitoba History, Journal of the Canadian Church Historical Society, and Revué D'Histoire Intellectuelle de L'Amerique Francaise.

H. Wade MacLauchlan, C.M. is President Emeritus of the University of Prince Edward Island, where he served as President from 1999 to 2011.   Previous positions include Dean of Law at the University of New Brunswick, and professor of law at Dalhousie University.  He received an O’Brien Foundation Scholarship in 1982, to pursue an LL.M. at Yale Law School, focusing on administrative and constitutional law.

Wade was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2008, and received the IPAC Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for Public Service Leadership in 2010.   He is a Trudeau Foundation Mentor, and is an elected member of the North Shore Community Council in his home district of Stanhope-Covehead PEI.   

Wade is a director of Medavie Inc. and partner in Anne China Inc., whose new Mandarin translation of Anne of Green Gables was short-listed as the “Most Influential” book (novel) published in China in 2012.  He is writing a book on the premiership of Alex B. Campbell, Prince Edward Island’s longest-serving Premier (1966-78), and is co-Chair of the 2013 Georgetown Conference Rural Redefined.