Alumnae

Alumni Awards

Alumni Awards

Two remarkable Trafalgar alumni are honoured at Homecoming each year.

Submit a nomination for our 2026 Alumni Awards today.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Established in 2007, the Distinguished Alumna Award honours a Trafalgar Old Girl each year whose life and work continue to inspire the students who walk these halls today. Each recipient is nominated by a fellow alumna — someone who knows firsthand what it means to have been shaped by this community, and who recognizes that same spirit in another.

We look for women who lead by example and lift others as they go. Women who have pursued their potential with courage, built something meaningful in their field, and left their communities better than they found them. The award isn't reserved for the most decorated or the most visible. It belongs to the woman whose story makes you proud to share an alma mater.

Karen Tam ’95 – Distinguished Alumna 2025

Karen Tam 譚嘉文 (b. 1977, Montreal, Canada) is an acclaimed artist and curator whose installations explore the constructions and imaginations of cultures and communities. Since 2000, her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Victoria and Albert Museum, He Xiangning Art Museum, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, and the Liverpool Biennial.

Her accolades include the 2021 Giverny Capital Prize, an Honourable Mention for Swallowing Mountains at the 2024 Canadian Museums Association Awards, and recognition from the Louis-Comtois Prize, Hnatyshyn Foundation Mid-Career Award, and Sobey Art Awards.

Tam holds an MFA in Sculpture (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) and a PhD in Cultural Studies (Goldsmiths, University of London). She is Adjunct Curator at Griffin Art Projects and has contributed to several publications on art and cultural studies. Her work is included in prominent museum and corporate collections in Canada, the United States, and the UK, and she is represented by Galerie Hugues Charbonneau.

Karen embodies the creativity, curiosity, and engagement that define Trafalgar. Her accomplishments continue to inspire both current and future students, showing the impact that dedication, vision, and a commitment to the community can have in the world.

Young Alumni Achievement Award

Launched in 2026, the Young Alumna Achievement Award honours a Trafalgar Old Girl within 15 years of graduation whose early path already speaks to the woman she is becoming. Each recipient is nominated by a fellow alumna, someone who recognizes that same Traf spirit alive and well in the next generation.

We look for women who have shown character and leadership in their pursuit to serve and shape the world around them. Women who inspire others through their actions, influence their communities in meaningful ways, and show every sign of continued impact. The award isn't reserved for the most accomplished or the most recognized. It belongs to the woman whose story makes you think: watch this space.


Don't let her go unrecognized. Nominate her today.

Previous Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

List of 5 items.

  • 2024

    Dionne Codrington '88: CBC Journalist
  • 2023

    Iakoiehwáhtha (Iako) Patton '16
  • 2022

    Ellen Shustik '96 and Sheryl Stotland '85
  • 2021

    Lori Senecal '81: CEO, Board Member, Strategic Advisor
  • 2020

    Sunniva Sorby '78: Director of Global Sales for Polar Latitudes – Antarctic Operator and Co-Founder of Hearts in the Ice.

List of 5 items.

  • 2019

    Susan Senecal '76: President and Chief Executive Officer of A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.
  • 2018

    Alix Ohlin '88: Author and Educator
  • 2017

    Jennifer Moroz ’90: Comedian
    Carolyn Taylor ’90: Journalist
  • 2016

    Nilima Gulrajani ’95: Research Fellow
  • 2015

    Leticia Artola Cox ’48: Pioneer in the field of family psychiatry, hygiene, and medicine

List of 5 items.

  • 2014

    LCDR (Ret.) Sherry Daws-Knowles Richardson CD ’53: First female ship commander, Canadian Navy
  • 2013

    Lola Sheppard ’88: Award-winning architect
  • 2012

    Caryl Churchill ’55: Playwright
  • 2011

    Lynne Echenberg ’89: Lawyer & Foster Care Advocate
  • 2010

    Ruth Simons '75: Palliative Care Physician and Educator

List of 3 items.

  • 2009

    Rhona "Grace" Wurtele Gillis '40 & Rhoda "Isabella" Wurtele Eaves '40: Olympic Skiing Pioneers
  • 2008

    Anne Wood '76: International Relief Worker
  • 2007

    Cathy Ferguson Burrows '75: Bank Marketing and Information Pioneer

Trafalgar School for Girls

3495 Simpson Street
Montreal, Quebec
H3G 2J7
514-935-2644
info@trafalgar.qc.ca
Our diverse school community challenges and inspires girls to embrace learning, be confident, and shape a better world.