Make-A-Wish Canada CEO Recognized by McMaster Alumni Association for Community Impact
June 22, 2026
Make-A-Wish® Canada’s Chief Executive Officer, Meaghan Stovel McKnight, received the Community Impact Award from the McMaster Alumni Association at an on-campus celebration on June 4, 2026.
A 2001 graduate of McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, Meaghan was recognized for the transformational impact she’s helped drive over the last 13 years in the Canadian health care and charitable sectors.
After beginning her career in the private sector, she was inspired to shift toward work with greater social purpose following the birth of her children and witnessing a close friend and mentor face cancer.
“That truly helped me understand how quickly life gets put into perspective when someone in your family or community is sick,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how much money you have or what your plans were. Everything else falls away, and people just want to lean in and help. I wanted to find a way that I could be part of helping others who were in that situation.”
These experiences led her to take on volunteer roles, including serving on the board of a local hospital foundation, but she wanted to bring that sense of purpose to her professional life as well.
In 2012, Meaghan switched sectors when she became vice-president and chief operating officer of the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation, a role she held through the hospital amalgamation that created Trillium Health Partners Foundation. She later joined The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation in 2018 as chief operating officer.
Her pivot to the health care sector delivered exactly what she had hoped for in her professional life. “I found something I truly care about,” she said. “I think that that’s so important. It’s easy to work hard when you really care about what you do every day.”
Since joining Make-A-Wish Canada in 2022, Meaghan has served as chief executive officer, helping lead the organization to create a bold, multi-year strategy that has united the team, elevated impact nationwide, and helped double the number of life-changing wishes granted annually to children with critical illnesses.
During this time, Make-A-Wish Canada has earned Great Place to Work certification for four consecutive years and was named to the 2025 Best Workplaces™ Led by Women list reflecting a strong culture of collaboration that helps the organization better serve children and families across Canada.
Meaghan also credits her McMaster experience for shaping how she leads today. While studying business, she minored in drama and participated in competitive improv, an experience she now sees reflected in her approach to fundraising.
“Great fundraising is a lot like improv,” she said. “It begins with listening and gently connecting the dots. You’re paying close attention to what matters to someone and exploring where it might intersect with the work we do. It’s not about leading the conversation, but about following it with curiosity and care.”
When notified of this award, Meaghan reflected on the role McMaster played in her journey. “I’m humbled by this recognition and grateful to McMaster for giving me a strong foundation for a meaningful career,” she said. “I’ll always be a proud Marauder.”
This recognition reflects not only Meaghan’s leadership, but also the collective efforts of employees, volunteers, donors, and our dedicated partners whose support helps ensure more children and families facing critical illnesses can experience the power of joy, hope, and respite.
