What do former Scholars say about their experience?

The Sauvé fellowship was a hugely defining experience—second to none—and one that has shaped my progress both personally and professionally.

— Shivangini Arora, India
Sauvé Scholar 2004-2005

The Sauvé House, your home away from home for eight months, is beautiful and has everything you need. It is located in the heart of downtown and you can get anywhere by walking. Having diverse occasions to meet and discuss with major business, political, cultural, academic and media figures is one of the major advantages of the Sauvé program. In addition to that, living with 12 roommates in such a gorgeous house, as well as having opportunities to explore a charming city like Montreal, … these are some of the privileges that you have as a Sauvé Scholar [that differentiate it] from other scholarship programs. Montreal is a beautiful city. I have been in a number of cities throughout Canada before, and I can say that Montreal is indeed one of the most exciting, cultural and lively cities in not only Canada, but also in North America. It is mainly due to the fact that it has a special flavour of its own. Having said that, I would like to encourage you to enjoy all the attractions of Montreal as much as possible during your stay at Sauvé House. Eight months could be long time, but at the same time, it can be also very short time and would fly so quickly. Please do not hesitate to explore the city from the first day of your arrival and expand your journey to the places beyond walking distance.
Introduction to the Sauvé Manual for 2005-2006 Sauvé Scholars,

— Ji-won Lee, Korea
Sauvé Scholar 2004-2005

 

My initial attraction to the program was due to the inspiring personality of Madame Sauvé. Her life, professional achievements, deep commitment to the improvement of society, as well as her personal radiance stimulated my interest in exploring the program more closely and to eventually apply. Upon coming to Montreal and embarking on the Sauvé experience, I quickly realized that my expectations would be exceeded by way of the program’s diversity, richness and flexibility, amidst a cosmopolitan, multi-cultural environment of a great city. The diversity of our group - high caliber scholars from all over the globe with fascinatingly different academic and personal backgrounds-provided extensive interaction and constantly exposed us to interesting perspectives, ideas, as well as angles from which to approach, understand and absorb the program’s experiences. These associations persist and have graduated and matured into a world-wide network encompassing the community of Sauvé alumni that keeps enriching and informing our experiences. Moreover, the format that allowed us to have access to every course from McGill University, one of the world’s eminent academic institutions, meant one had a vast selection of rigorous and rewarding courses to choose, experience and ultimately benefit from. Further, the flexible nature of the structure of the program - permitting each fellow to craft our year-long schedule according to our own intellectual needs, pace and curiosity - challenged us to make optimal use of the Sauvé program’s advantages. During my tenure as a Sauvé Scholar, I explored, developed and expanded ideas on the juncture between peace, sustainability and architecture, produced and published a related paper, and thoroughly engaged with the McGill School of Architecture community. This significant interaction influenced and propelled me to continue my studies here, under the inspiring supervision of Professor Vikram Bhatt, whom I met through the Program. Together, the freedom to choose among the abundant selection of courses, the weekly seminars for Sauvé scholars by distinguished scientists, artists and captains of industry, plus frequent trips to North American cultural and academic destinations served to inspire, challenge and push us to responsibly pursue our individual projects and realize our own potential to the fullest. On a personal level, I found my experience to be extremely positive, rewarding and meaningful. The program enabled me to learn more not only about my discipline, my fellow colleagues, mentors and administrators - the whole Sauvé family, as well as the cosmopolitan city of Montreal and the vibrant North American way of life, but also, about myself, my academic purpose and my professional sense of direction.

— Leila Marie Farah, France
Sauvé Scholar 2004-2005

 

Why did I apply for the Sauvé Program? I love university life and I was missing it. The opportunity to explore McGill University and to live with a small group of young leaders in Montreal had a strong appeal to me. Is the Sauvé program what I expected? It ended up being much more than what I expected. The freedom and support to dedicate myself to causes that really interest me was precious and it took me a while to realize that. While here, I was able to exercise, 24 hours a day, the right to explore personal and global challenges. Thus, my social consciousness broadened globally and I realized that the Sauvé Program's scope was broader than Montreal and Canada.

— Nathan Souza, Brazil
Sauvé Scholar 2006-2007

 

The Sauvé experience broadened my horizons immeasurably. It also provided me with a whole new range of issues I wanted to explore through my work. Meeting and developing relations with the diverse group of Scholars spanning the world was the highlight for me. I was not only reflecting about my place in the world, but also privy to the experiences, sometimes tragic, of some other unique and passionate individuals.

— Paul Shore, Canada
Sauvé Scholar 2003-2004

 

Montreal, the city of opportunities, diversity and inspiration! … I was impressed by the scholarly environment from which I gained a great deal of knowledge regarding world affairs. The rich collection of literature in McGill’s library greatly assisted me in my research for my Sauvé Scholars project. Not only did [the Program] allow me to have a unique Canadian experience, but it also helped me to explore the cultural experiences of ten different countries. By this, I mean from my fellow Scholars who joined me in Montreal from all around the world.

— David Bagiaev, South Ossetia
Sauvé Scholar 2006-2007

 

The centerpiece of my life in Montreal was of course the Sauvé Program. I liked the Sauvé House so much. I enjoyed the company, friendship and collegiality of my fellow scholars. The debates we had, the history we shared, the knowledge we exchanged, and the group activities we participated in, all enriched my personal and professional life in a very profound ways. In the 8 months of my stay in Montréal, I had the chance to reflect, learn, and share knowledge and skills that will stay with me for a very long time.

— Philip Osano, Kenya
Sauvé Scholar 2006-2007

 

We had a variety of speakers and lively discussions. The Scholars brought a wealth of experience. The programme was a wonderful opportunity to learn about different cultures and forge friendships beyond the seas. It was a truly serendipitous experience.

— Naomi Gunasekara, Sri Lanka
Sauvé Scholar 2005-2006