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.

Ms. McGonigal is a founding member of the Grace Hospital Foundation and was its Chair for almost two decades, retiring in 2011.  Under her guidance the Foundation raised more than $25 million in support of patient care at The Grace.  In 2016, she Co-Chaired the “Tomorrow’s Grace Capital Campaign”, which raised $6 million to help build the new Emergency Department and MRI Building.

In addition to serving as the Chair of Grace Hospital Foundation, Ms. McGonigal also served two terms as the Chair of the Grace Hospital Board of Management (1987-1993).  All told, Ms. McGonigal has devoted more than 40 years to The Grace.

Beyond her service to the Grace, Ms. McGonigal has been a dedicated public servant and a trailblazer, serving as the first female Deputy Mayor of Winnipeg and the first female Lt. Governor of Manitoba.  Her awards and accolades are far too numerous to mention.

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.