The McCall MacBain Foundation: Transforming Lives
Marcy and John McCall MacBain
In 2026, John and Marcy McCall MacBain, through the McCall MacBain Foundation, made a historic $10 million investment at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) — the largest single donation to student scholarships in the university’s history.
This landmark gift established the McCall MacBain Community Health Awards at TMU within the Faculty of Community Services. Launched in this moment when Canada faces a severe health-care labour shortage, the award program targets high-demand, patient-facing fields: nursing, midwifery, social work, public health, and nutrition. By mitigating some of the financial burden of higher education, the McCall MacBain Community Health Awards allow students to focus completely on developing clinical excellence and deep learning.
Over its first ten years, the program will provide critical, renewable scholarships to more than 300 students pursuing degrees in these vital frontline professions. After the initial 10-year period, the endowed portion of the gift will continue to support four new students in nursing per year in perpetuity.
The foundation’s investment also includes an innovative $700,000 matching component designed to catalyze further philanthropy. For a limited time, new donor contributions directed toward scholarships in these crucial disciplines will be matched dollar-for-dollar, effectively doubling the impact on the local health-care pipeline.
The McCall MacBain Foundation recognizes the power of education to transform individual lives and, in turn, cultivate healthier, more equitable and prosperous communities. Founded in 2007 by John and Marcy McCall MacBain, the foundation uses a strategic approach to seed, scale, and support initiatives that drive meaningful, lasting change across Canada and globally.
John grew up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Marcy grew up on a farm in Huron County, Ontario. They both have credited public schools and their teachers for ensuring that coming from a small town was not a barrier. Their education provided the foundation for their careers: John building Trader Classified Media into a global leader in classified ads; and Marcy focusing on evidence-based health care. Reflecting their deep roots in Canada and their extensive experience in entrepreneurship and higher education, they have dedicated a majority of their philanthropy to building opportunities — particularly through scholarships — for young people to achieve their full potential and positively impact their communities. They have also invested across initiatives that protect the environment and improve health outcomes.
While the foundation’s historic scholarship program marks a major milestone at TMU, the foundation’s first investment at the university was in early 2025 and was dedicated to nurturing student well-being and mental health by strengthening the university’s peer support program. That initial gift reflected the foundation's core belief that comprehensive health outcomes begin with accessible, community-led support systems.
Whether empowering students to strengthen their mental health and build resilience, or funding the next generation of frontline health-care leaders, the McCall MacBain Foundation continues to invest in cultivating human potential and leadership that Canadian communities will depend on for decades to come.