Kelly Meighen

Kelly Meighen, née Dillon (born 8 November 1949) is a highly accomplished Toronto-based philanthropist and volunteers much of her time supporting charities and organizations focused on mental health, youth and social innovation. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. She is the wife of retired Senator Michael Meighen.^[1]

She received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Huron University College, an affiliate of the University of Western Ontario (now Western University), in 1971. She has received Honorary Doctorates from Mount Alison University, the University of New Brunswick and Western University.^[2]

Kelly is the President of the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation, a charity that makes donations to social health and welfare programs in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.^[3] She has been a member of the board since 1980 and is currently the chair of the CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health^[4]). She is a founding and current member on the board of directors for Jack.org, an organization that educates and empowers student leaders to be at the forefront of change in the mental health landscape.^[5] Kelly has been integral in the direction of Jack.org with her extensive experience in the non-profit sector. She has been Chair of McGill University's Academic Advising and Mentoring Advisory Board. She was Chair of the Stratford Festival of Canada from 2005 until 2007.^[6] She lives in Toronto and has three sons.

As an avid and highly accomplished Toronto-based philanthropist, Kelly has won various awards for philanthropic work. She received The Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2008.^[7] She was also recognized by her alma mater, Western University, in 2010 with the Dr. Ivan Smith Award.^[8] Along with her husband, she was a recipient of the Yorktown Family Services Humanitarian Award for community service in 2013 ^[9] and also awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.^[10]

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