Neville G. Poy
OC, O.St.J., B.Sc., M.D., C.M., M.Sc. FRCS(C), FACS
Dr. Neville Poy received his medical degree from McGill University in 1960. He completed his training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the same university and practised his specialty in Toronto until his retirement in 1995.
He played leadership roles in both medical and non-medical communities, receiving recognition for his contributions to medical education, the visual and the performing arts, the military, philanthropy and voluntarism. Some of these include: finalist judging and mentorship of winners of the Top 20 Under 20 contestants, and mentorship of Massey College Junior Fellows; serving on the boards of the Royal Conservatory of Music and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection; endowment support of McGill University plastic surgery residents in training; appointment as Honorary Colonel of the Queen’s York Rangers Regiment (Army); and presiding at Canadian citizenship ceremonies.
Dr. Poy is also a recipient of the following honours: the Order of Canada (Officer) for medicine (health care), the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Order of St. John (Officer), a Grant of Arms (Coat of Arms), the Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scarborough Hospital, and the Chinese Canadian Legend Award.
Dr. Poy had a childhood hobby of photography, which he nurtured over his entire lifetime. He enjoys a consuming and gratifying post-retirement career in photography, displaying his work and presenting public audiovisual presentations.
Vivienne Poy
O.St.J., Dip., B.A., M.A., Ph.D, Former senator
The Honorable Dr. Vivienne Poy, Ph.D. (History, University of Toronto), is an author, entrepreneur, historian, fashion designer (Fashion Arts, Seneca College), board member of for-profit and non-profit institutions, and community activist.
In 1998, she was the first Canadian of Asian heritage to be appointed to the Senate of Canada where she focused on gender issues, multiculturalism, immigration and human rights. She was instrumental in having the month of May recognized as Asian Heritage Month across Canada. She is Chancellor Emerita of the University of Toronto and the author/co-editor of numerous publications. Since her retirement from the Senate in September 2012, she remains an active participant in communities across Canada.
Despite a very busy public life, Vivienne treasures the tranquility that nature provides. Gardening is her favourite pastime. She uses her design talent in all her pursuits, including her gardens, creating useful items with material retrieved from natural surroundings, as well as arranging floral displays.
Vivienne is a recipient of many honours and awards, including numerous honorary degrees and professorships from universities in Canada, the USA, China, Hong Kong and South Korea.
Foreword by Paul Roth
Director, Ryerson Imaging Centre
Paul Roth is Director of the Ryerson Image Centre in Toronto, Canada. Previously, he served as Senior Curator of Photography and Media Arts at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC; as Executive Director of the Richard Avedon Foundation in New York; and as archivist of the Robert Frank Collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington. He is author and co-editor of Gordon Parks: The Flávio Story (Steidl, 2018) and Gordon Parks: Collected Works (Steidl, 2012); and author and editor of Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power (Steidl/Corcoran, 2008).
