Dr. Blair Bigham was confirmed as the recipient of the 2026 Agnes Macphail Award by City of Toronto Council on February 4.
Apart from one year during Covid, the Agnes Macphail Award ceremony has been held each year since 1994 close to Agnes Macphail’s birthdate of March 24. The recipient is required to reside in East York and exhibit strong volunteer leadership qualities over a period in social justice issues.
In the words of Dr. Bigham’s nominator, Fernando Valencia, “as a senior editor and a founding member at the Investigative Journalism Bureau, he has contributed to reporting on femicides, helping bring public attention to gender-based violence and systemic failures that place women at risk.”
That is just one facet of the volunteer leadership he has exhibited over the past 15-plus years. One of his supporters described Dr. Bigham as “a strong advocate for systemic change that uplifts the community.”
Dr. Blair Bigham has built his career “thinking locally and acting globally,” bringing national platforms and international experience directly to bear on the needs, challenges and voices of his local community. An emergency and critical care physician at Sunnybrook Health Centre, educator and journalist, his work is deeply rooted in East Toronto and throughout the city. He has consistently focused on fairness, dignity and accountability in systems that profoundly shape people’s lives with his insistence that equity and justice be visible, named and addressed. His contributions as a volunteer, advocate and community leader span decades and reflect a sustained commitment to the values of Agnes Macphail.
He has chosen the Investigative Journalism Bureau as the registered charity to receive donations contributed towards this award through The East York Foundation, c/o 50 Merritt Rd., East York, Ont. M4B 3K6, or via Canada Helps.
All are invited to attend the award ceremony and reception at the East York Civic Centre, 650 Coxwell Ave., on Sun., March 22, starting at 2 p.m. Parking is available in the staff parking area off Mortimer Ave.
