About the Pearl McGonigal Award
Established in 2019, the Pearl McGonigal Award honours an individual or group for outstanding contributions to Grace Hospital and our community at large. Ms. McGonigal was the award’s first recipient in May of 2019.
The award itself was created by noted local sculptor Jordan Van Sewell. Mr. Van Sewell and Ms. McGonigal have been friends for decades. The sculpture embodies the “Spirit of Grace” with its beautiful prairie sky and flowing Sturgeon Creek. Each recipient of the Pearl McGonigal Award receives a replica of the original award.
2022
Pearl McGonigal Award
On October 25, 2022, the Grace Hospital Foundation recognized Wajih (Moe) Zeid of FOODFARE with the Pearl McGonigal Award for a lifetime of achievement. Wajih Zeid came to Canada in 1967 when he was twenty years old with as the saying goes, nothing but the shirt on his back. For many years, Mr. Zeid worked during the day as a butcher at Manitoba Sausage and in the evenings as a delivery driver. he saved well and in 1977 he bought his first grocery store, a small Payfair store on St. Matthews Avenue. Now, almost 50 years later, he is the largest independent grocer in Winnipeg, with five highly successful FOODFARE locations. Mr. Zeid is the father of seven children and has 38 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He has dedicated much of his time and resources to many important causes in the community and has been a major support of Grace Hospital for decades.