Roger Montigny (BSc (Pharmacy)’74) was one of those rare breeds – a person who lived passionately by his convictions and sought to make the world a better place through his career as a pharmacist.
“He loved going to work, he loved learning and he loved people,” recalls his wife, Belinda. “Pharmacy was simply part of his heart and soul.”
After graduating from ±«Óătv 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.
“For 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. “He always had a learning agenda for his pharmacy students,” says Belinda. “It was never just a job.”
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 ±«Óătv Pharmacy in 2008.
When Roger passed away in December 2010, he left behind a grieving family and community. “We 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,” says Belinda.
To honour his love of pharmacy and education, Roger’s family decided to establish the Roger Montigny Memorial Fund at ±«Óătv 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.
“The family wanted to leave a legacy for someone who has made a difference in the profession of pharmacy,” says Belinda. “We knew this award would be Roger’s prescription for future students.”
This article is part of the ±«Óătv 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 .