Vancouver Island University welcomes Judith Sayers as its next chancellor. Ms. Sayers, a sustainable development advocate, is president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, a non-profit that works to provide services and supports to 14 First Nations with about 10,000 members. She spent 14 years as chief of Hupacasath First Nation, and in that time oversaw projects that boosted economic growth and secured rights. She became a member of the Order of Canada in 2019, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Clean Energy BC and, named to Canada’s 2016 Clean50 for being an outstanding contributor to clean capitalism, and in 2009 was inducted into the Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame.
Kevin Hall becomes the next president of the University of Victoria for a five-year term beginning Nov. 1. Dr. Hall is currently vice-president and senior deputy vice-chancellor of global engagement and partnerships at the University of Newcastle in Australia. In his academic career, he has focused on putting research into practice by delivering knowledge to industry and community, and on the topics of water quality monitoring, environmental monitoring and pathogen detection systems.
Wilfrid Laurier University appointed Ivan Joseph as its next vice-president, student affairs, beginning Oct. 1. Dr. Joseph comes to Laurier from Dalhousie University, where he served as vice-provost, student affairs. Prior to his time at Dalhousie, Dr. Joseph spent 10 years as director of athletics at Ryerson University. He is a well-known public speaker, coach and mentor, has produced TEDx Talks with millions of views and was recognized by Forbes for one of the best TED Talks for graduates in 2018.
Peter Meehan became the new president of St. Jerome’s University, a Catholic university federated with the University of Waterloo, on July 13. He most recently served as president of the University of British Columbia’s affiliated Catholic college, Corpus Christi/St. Markes College. There, he oversaw new program development and an increase of student enrolment. Before this, he was chair of Seneca College’s school of liberal arts and academic partnerships, and dean in the faculty of academic quality and university partnerships.
Kimberly Phillips is the new director of SFU Galleries at Simon Fraser University. An experienced art curator, educator and writer, Ms. Phillips most recently served as curator at the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver, where she oversaw the gallery’s exhibitions, publications and artist residencies. In her new role, she will be responsible for SFU Galleries’ three locations – Audain Gallery, Tech Gallery and SFU Gallery – as well as the SFU art collection. Ms. Phillips began her new position at SFU on Aug. 17.
Western University has appointed its first director of student wellness and well-being. Terry McQuaid, who takes on the new role on Sept. 14, will lead and manage wellness education, medical and mental health, and student support and case management within the student experience portfolio at Western. Dr. McQuaid, a psychologist with experience in equity, mental health and violence prevention, comes to Western from George Brown College, where she was director of anti-racism, equity and human rights services.
Carl James has taken on the newly created position of senior advisor on equity and representation at York University, starting Aug. 1. Dr. James is a professor in the faculty of education at York and has spent decades working in equity in relation to race, class, gender, and immigration and citizenship. In this new role, he will help advance equity, diversity and inclusion, guide the development of York’s equity plan and advise on matters that are important to racialized students, faculty and staff.
Since Aug. 31, Naomi Andrew is serving as acting vice president, administration, at the University of Manitoba until a permanent vice-president is selected. Ms. Andrew is the university’s vice-president, fair practices and legal affairs, and will continue to lead this office while holding the acting position. She joined U of M in 2003 after practising commercial law at a Winnipeg law firm and gaining experience in real estate development and leasing, commercial transactions, research and technology, copyright and privacy.
Bishop’s University announced the appointment of Daniel Fournier as its new chancellor for a five-year term beginning Aug. 29. Mr. Fournier, a former Princeton University student, Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and player on the Ottawa Rough Riders Canadian Football League team, has spent decades working in the real estate industry. From 2010 to 2019, he served as chair and chief executive officer for Ivanhoé Cambridge, a real estate subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Recently, he chaired fundraising campaigns for La Maison du Pere, the Lighthouse Children and Families organization, and the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, and until last February served as chair of the board of trustees for the McCord Museum Foundation in Montreal.