Honoured for academic excellence 36 years ago, Denise David, Carole Walker and Paul Meikle excelling

September 29, 2021

Accepted into a few Canadian universities, Denise David (Simon) was forced to choose one close to home because of limited financial resources.

Even when that decision was made, she was worried about where the funds would come from to start her post-secondary studies.

Just imagine how ecstatic David was after being selected to receive the United Achievers Club of Brampton (UACB) first scholarship in 1985.

“The money couldn’t have come at a better time,” she said. “It allowed me to put a down payment on my tuition. Shortly after, I got a part time job that was a big help. That scholarship provided hope and allowed me to pursue post-secondary education.”

At the inaugural ceremony 36 years ago, David shared the spotlight with Central Peel Secondary School classmates Carole Walker (Brown) and Paul Meikle who were recognized for their scholastic achievements.

“I remember getting dressed up that night and it was so nice to see that my schoolmates were recognized for their hard work,” said the 1989 University of Toronto Bachelor of Science graduate. “It was great and I will never forget that night.”

Her first job was a lab technician.

“I soon discovered that I didn’t really enjoy bench work as it was really monotonous and there wasn’t a lot of thinking involved,” David, who completed the Queen’s University Executive MBA program in 2010, noted. “What you learned what to do, that’s what you did. I was attracted to a job posting for a Regulatory Affairs Associate with a pharmaceutical company. At the time, I didn’t know what a Regulatory Affairs Associate was or did, but I met the criteria as I had the qualifications.”

After eight years with Organon Canada, David spent nearly 13 years with Ferring Pharmaceuticals as Director of Regulatory & Technical Affairs, four years with LEO Pharma Canada as Director of Regulatory Affairs & Quality Assurance, almost three years with Etsee Lauder Group of Companies as Manager of Global Regulatory Affairs and four years with OntRAQC as a Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance Consultant.

The mother of three, who has been married for 29 years, joined Bayer Pharmaceuticals at the start of the year as Director of Regulatory Affairs.

“I oversee a team of five people and a few therapeutic areas, including cardiology, radiology, ophthalmology and women’s health,” pointed out David whose parents are immigrants from Antigua and Guyana. “I manage the submission of new molecules to Health Canada for new drugs as well as the products we have on the market and changes to either the product or labelling.”

Though she didn’t receive a scholarship, just being recognized was very satisfying for Walker who was the keynote speaker at the UACB virtual scholarship awards on September 18.

“I got a plaque and a Webster dictionary that was put to good use,” the third of six siblings and the first to attend university said. “The fact that somebody else other than my family saw something in me and took the time to say ‘good job’ meant the world to me. I really, really appreciated that. That kept me focused and made me more determined to excel personally and professionally.”

Accepted into the University of Toronto Mississauga campus and York University, Walker chose Waterloo.

“York, at the time, seemed like a big high school where everyone was hanging out,” she recalled. “I didn’t see it as a place for serious study. U of T, on the other hand, was close to my home and I felt there would be distractions. Waterloo allowed me to focus on what I wanted to do. In addition, the program they offered was very enticing.”

Walker graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

At a very young age, she aspired to be a Chartered Accountant.

Carole Walker (Photo contributed)

Walker’s late father, Rupert Brown was a Toronto Pentecostal church treasurer and deacon, was her main inspiration.

“I always wanted to help him at church and my job was to sort the offering, wrap the coins and assist with the calculations and deposits,” she recounted. “That was where my love for accounting started even though I was very poor at math and got a ‘D’ in middle school. I remember telling myself this wasn’t acceptable and I have to do better. That I was able to graduate from high school and university with honours just goes to show it’s not where you start, but where you finish that matters.”

Walker is a senior manager in the Sales Tax Advisory unit with Ryan ULC that supports multinational companies operating across Canada with a suite of provincial, federal and international tax services.

“I advise clients how to file and get sales tax refunds among other things,” she said. “I advise people on how they can save money.”

Married for 26 years, Walker and her husband have three children, ranging in age from 23 to 19.

The recognition boosted Meikle’s confidence, expectations and goals.

“Your family is always there patting you on the back and encouraging you, but this was a reminder that people on the outside were looking at you and they felt it was important to honour you,” he said. “I didn’t realize there was that community of support. That stood out for me and pushed me to really want to do well.”

Graduating in 1989 with a Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo where he played football and held the 300-metre varsity record for 31 years, Meikle joined Sears Canada as an Analyst.

He took a leave of absence in 1991 to tryout at safety for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Paul Meikle (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

Cut in June that year, Meikle returned to Sears and, in May 1997, transitioned to IBM as an Information Technology Specialist.

“My business area is on the broker side and I lead a team of developers that provides the back office accounting for firms like TD Waterhouse and National Bank,” the married father of six children said.

For the last 19 years, Meikle has been a youth soccer coach

He’s also a Sunday school teacher at Kingdom House Christian Centre in Brampton that his brother, Rob Meikle, co-founded and is the Co-Senior Pastor.

Maurice Hudson was the UACB President when the scholarship program started.

The retired high school Principal said the funds for the first scholarship were donated by the organization’s members.

“We know they are many parents who want the best for their children, but money is an issue,” he said. “That’s why we started to look at ways in which we could assist those students.”

Hudson was the Vice-Principal at Central Peel Secondary School at the time.

Maurice Hudson with retired Peel District School Board principal Joy Squires (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

“You have to start somewhere and the decision was made to begin with that school,” noted the retired Justice of the Peace. “Denise was exceptionally organized, Carole was extremely articulate and Paul was exceptional as well. They were very bright. There was a selection process and interviews before the committee decided that the trio stood out.”

A total of 13 Peel region high school graduates received scholarships worth a combined $13,000 at this year’s event.

They are Tashon Bleary, Christina Campbell and King-David Olajuwon (Cardinal Leger), Hannah Essebrah (David Suzuki), Stephanie Henry (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Victoria Herlidan (Notre Dame Catholic), Elliot Laughton (Philip Pocock), Pamusa Nafees (Harold Braithwaite), Christabel Ntow (St. Joseph Secondary), Kimberly Olumese (St. Edmund Campion), Reon Pyne (Mayfield), Shandy Tchoumkeu (Turner Fenton) and Kristina Ukhuegbe (Central Peel).

In the last 36 years, a total of 426 high school graduates have received scholarships worth $420,000.