The Distinguished Community Service Award is presented to a member of the Saint Mary's University Alumni Association who has made an outstanding contribution to their community and or to Saint Mary’s.
All University employees and members of the Saint Mary's University Alumni Association may submit a one-page letter of recommendation for a candidate, illustrating their suitability for this award. A completed Alumni Awards Nomination Form must accompany the letter.
Selection Candidates are considered annually by the Saint Mary's University Alumni Association's Awards & Nomination Committee.TimelineThe nomination period for the 2024 Alumni Awards is now closed.
2025 Recipient Bruce Bowser BA’17
Bruce Bowser is a highly respected Canadian business leader and Chairman of AMJ Campbell Van Lines. After beginning his career in banking, he joined AMJ in the early 1990s and rose to Chairman, also serving as President and CEO of parent company CamVec Corp., where he led the successful bid to take the company private. Under his leadership, AMJ expanded to more than 75 operations in over 50 locations across Canada, employing more than 2,800 staff and becoming an internationally recognized brand with over $250 million in sales. Beyond AMJ, Bruce has made significant contributions to the health-care sector, serving on the Cleveland Clinic Canada Senior Management Team and now as CEO of the Atlantic Centre for Ambulatory Care. He is also Co-Founder of Aprilvets.com, a fast-growing, Canadian vet-owned network of veterinary clinics. Bruce’s commitment to community service is reflected in his extensive volunteer leadership, including roles with the National Ballet School of Canada, Canada Company, Teen Ranch Foundation, Credit Valley Hospital Foundation, and the Halifax/Dartmouth YMCA. An avid pilot, Bruce lends his time to support the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Armed Forces, having been appointed to Honorary Colonel (RCAF) since 2017. He recently chaired the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Winter Fair and continues to serve on its Board. A respected business voice, Bruce has been featured across national media and is co-author of the best-selling book The Focus Effect. For his exceptional leadership, dedicated volunteer service and lasting contributions to Saint Mary’s University, we proudly recognize Bruce Bowser as the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Community Service Award.
Past Recipients