Following a ceremony in the University Club, four students have now officially received their Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award.
Taking place on March 27 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., winners formally received their awards at the yearly reception hosted by the Office of the Rector. Recepients Emils Matiss, PhD ’27, Bisola Olaseni, BHSc ’26, Oluwamisimi Oluwole, Nurs ’26, and Daniel Reddy, PhD ’26, were joined by their families and friends to accept what’s been crowned as the highest tribute that can be paid to a Queen’s student for distinguished service, leadership, character, and community impact during their time at the University.
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A handful of award alumni were in attendance, the oldest of which was Liz Muir, ArtSci ’56. She was given the award in her final year at Queen’s for her work as president of the Levana Society, among other involvement in campus activities.
The ceremony kicked off around 45 minutes into the event, with the winners walking down the aisle to live bagpipes. They were joined by Rector Niki Boytchuk-Hale, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane, Former Rector and Tricolour Award winner Mike Young, and Chancellor Shelagh Rogers.
Deane kicked off the speeches, explaining how one of the first award winners, John Matheson, ArtSci ’41, played a hand in the creation of the Canadian flag and the establishment of the Order of Canada. He said that Matheson used the Tricolour Award to help create the Order of Canada, explaining he has “no doubt” this year’s winners will continue to influence the world, as past winners have.
Much of Rogers’ speech was dedicated to the awards namesake—Agnes Benidickson—whom Rogers pointed out is a field, a house, and an award at Queen’s. She employed the winners to bring the passion and commitment of Benidickson with them to make the University, and society at large, better for generations to come.
Young encouraged the award winners to take the honour seriously, assuring them that the award was a big deal. He explained that, as someone who became a parent two years ago, it’s a paradigm shift. Young said seeing a child full of hope and possibility is something special, and he hopes the winners will be able to act as examples for people to look up to, for his daughter and others.
The ceremony then moved into handing out the awards. Boytchuk-Hale explained that rather than being introduced by a host, recipients will receive a brief speech from those who nominated them for the honour in the first place.
For Matiss, this was Student Senate Caucus Chair and Graduate Student Senator Sakura Koner, a third-year PhD student. She explained she met Matiss when she moved to Canada in 2022, and he played a large part in her journey to student leadership.
“He insists that I always had the qualities of a leader. I disagree. I believe he was the one that instilled in me the courage and confidence to be one, and that pretty much sums up who Emils is as a leader, as a friend, as a person,” Koner said.
Matiss recieving his award before delivering a brief speech. PHOTO BY CALLUM LINDEN
Sharon Okoroma, MD ’29, then introduced Olaseni. She said Bisola supported her when she was looking for ways to get involved on campus, connecting her with opportunities and resources.
“Over time, many of us started to refer to her as the bridge, because that’s exactly what she is,” Okoroma said. “If opening doors for others were the standard, Bisola wouldn’t just open the door, she would hold it, stand beside it, and make sure that no one ever enters alone.”
Olaseni recieving her award before delivering a brief speech. PHOTO BY CALLUM LINDEN
Oluwole’s nominator was Eniola Macaula, Nurs ’27. She said that from the moment she met Oluwole, it was clear she was someone who stood out for the impact she had on the people around her. As her mentor, Macaula said Oluwole was a constant source of guidance, encouragement, and inspiration.
“In moments where I doubted myself, she reminded me of my strength. In moments where I felt lost, she helped me find direction again. And in moments where I mentioned where I belong, she made it clear, not just through words, but through actions,” Oluwole said.
Oluwole recieving her award before delivering a brief speech. PHOTO BY CALLUM LINDEN
Reddy’s nominator was Rachel Wood, a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry. Wood said his impact reached far beyond his own academic work, shaping the lab, the broader chemistry community, and the students he supported along the way. Having known him for more than five years and worked alongside him in the same lab for nearly three, she said she saw firsthand how his mentorship, generosity, and leadership affected the people around him.
“Queen’s is a better place because Dan chose to invest his time, energy, and talent here, and long after he leaves, that impact won’t fade. It will be seen in the people he supported, in the community he’s built, and the standard he set for what leadership at Queen’s can be.”
Reddy recieving his award before delivering a brief speech. PHOTO BY CALLUM LINDEN
After the awards were divvied up, the ceremony finished with a group Oil Thigh involving all those in attendance, marking the end of a yearly tradition aimed at honouring Queen’s students.
Award winners, nominators, and Queen’s administrators alike join in on an Oil Thigh song and dance to mark the end of the event. PHOTO BY CALLUM LINDEN
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Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award, Levana Society, Liz Muir, Rector
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