This is the 2nd Scholarship of the Gems for Gems Scholarship Program and will be awarded to a survivor of domestic abuse who has demonstrated knowledge of the importance of remaining outside of abusive relationships, compassion to those who have lost their lives as a result of abuse and understanding of the gift living truly is.

This woman will have been through the Gems for Gems Scholarship Selection Process, ranked in the highest percentile of all applicants and will be made aware of Shannon’s story in order to honour the memory of the loss and the life behind this once in a lifetime gift of education.

About Shannon Madill

Shannon was a young Calgarian actress who is said to have lit up any room she entered. She was murdered in November 2014 by her husband.


To the Madill family’s knowledge, there had been no physical abuse until the night Shannon was packed and ready to leave her husband.

It was this night that he choked her… first with his hands, then his belt when his hands grew tired… and ended her life. When asked why he said, “I just wanted her to stop talking”.

“Shannon was a warm, funny, outgoing woman and although her case is not what we think of as a typical domestic abuse situation, her life ended all too soon when she was murder by her husband.

Shannon was an advocate for women’s issues, one of her favorite charities was Because I Am A Girl.

I’m sure Gems for Gems would have been a cause she would have been happy to contribute to.

We will never get to hear her voice, laugh at her jokes or even just give her a hug again but it is such a honor to have Shannon’s name attached to this scholarship that will give another woman and her family the opportunity to live a fully and happy life without violence.”

-Lisa Madill (Shannon’s Mother)

Learn more on Shannon Madill’s case below:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4431581