USask alumna reflects on her time as university’s 16th Chancellor

For University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate Grit McCreath (BEd’91), becoming USask’s Chancellor was “a perfect segue” after serving as a public-school teacher and administrator for 32 years in Saskatoon, Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton.

With McCreath’s time as USask’s 16th Chancellor soon coming to an end on June 30, 2025, the College of Education alumna said her “heart is overflowing with an immense sense of thankfulness.” Some of her fondest memories at USask were formed during the spring and fall Convocation ceremonies, during which she conferred almost 30,000 degrees.

“The students are certainly what we are all about,” she said. “How wonderful to be part of preparing the next generation of global citizens and community leaders who will make an impact locally and around the globe.”

 McCreath’s first three-year appointment as Chancellor began on July 1, 2019, when she took over from Dr. Roy Romanow (BA’60, LLB’64, LLD’07), who was named Chancellor in 2016. McCreath was then reappointed for a second term in 2021.

“For me the stars aligned, and I have had the privilege and opportunity to serve this wonderful university with love and gratitude,” she said.

USask graduate Scott Banda (BA’86, LLB’90) will begin serving as USask’s 17th Chancellor on July 1, 2025, when McCreath’s appointment concludes.

McCreath’s connections to USask are long and meaningful. She first roamed the campus as a child when her parents—who came to Canada with their young family after leaving Communist East Germany—were students at USask. McCreath later became a USask student and a graduate herself, earning her Bachelor of Education degree in 1991. McCreath also met her husband, Scott (BComm’69), while attending classes at the university. Together they raised two sons, Andy (BA’99) and James.

McCreath said she feels like “one of the luckiest people in the world” to have had the opportunity to serve her alma mater as Chancellor.

“Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined six years ago, before I became Chancellor, that I would be here—that little girl with pigtails arriving in Canada on a refugee ship would become Chancellor of one of the top universities in this country,” she said.

McCreath, who in 2019 was named a recipient of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, has dedicated her time and energy to USask for two decades, serving as a member of the University Senate and of the Board of Governors, and as the university’s inaugural honorary ambassador. Duties for that position included meeting with and hosting alumni and donors, recruiting students, mentoring individuals and groups, attending university events and ceremonies, and providing the president with feedback from the community.

Many of McCreath’s family members count themselves among the university’s proudest supporters, with more than 25 degrees among them. Her parents, her three brothers, her husband, many members of her husband’s family, and one of their two children are all USask graduates.

McCreath said some of the highlights of her time at USask include serving on the Board of Governors for 12 years, working with the staff in the Governance Office and with faculty and staff across campus, and attending University Senate meetings with University Secretary and Chief Governance Officer Dr. Julian Demkiw (BE’99, MA’11, PhD’24). McCreath said she thoroughly enjoyed working with USask President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff, whom she called “one of the finest presidents in the country.”

“Under his strong leadership USask has flourished and has become an internationally recognized institution—actually ranked in the top two per cent of worldwide universities,” she said.

Other highlights for McCreath were officially opening USask’s Prince Albert campus in 2020, opening the USask Calgary Hub in 2022, and attending many exciting Huskie sporting events, including two Vanier Cup finals, women’s basketball national championships, and hockey, basketball, and soccer games.

Working with Vice-President of University Relations Cheryl Hamelin (BSHEC’88) and her team in University Relations on the historic Be What the World Needs campaign was also a special experience for McCreath, who served on the Campaign Cabinet with her husband. McCreath said Hamelin “was absolutely key in attracting a dynamic University Relations team and Campaign Cabinet. She had the ambition, energy, vision, and enthusiasm to take on a Herculean task.” Earlier this month, USask announced that, thanks to the outstanding support of alumni, individual, and corporate donors, the university’s audacious $500-million campaign goal had been surpassed, reaching a grand total of $570,739,155.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Grit McCreath for her service as the university’s Chancellor over the past six years,” said Stoicheff. “Grit has been a tremendous advocate for her alma mater, advancing the reputation of the University of Saskatchewan provincially, nationally, and internationally. She has helped to energize our campaign to Be the University the World Needs. It has been my honour and privilege to work alongside her.”

McCreath is grateful for all the support she received throughout her tenure as Chancellor. She noted her husband, Scott, “has been as invested and dedicated to this position as I have been.”

“He’s been to many alumni events in North America, cheered for the Huskies, co-hosted innumerable functions, edited my speeches, and been just the best partner anyone can have,” she said. “He’s cheered me on every step of the way.”

Earlier this spring, Grit and Scott McCreath McCreath were honoured at a ceremony celebrating their many philanthropic contributions to USask. Together, the McCreaths have donated more than $2 million over the past 40 years to various initiatives in the College of Education, Edwards School of Business, the Huskies, and across campus, with a focus on supporting students and enhancing learning spaces. Two notable examples of their giving included the establishment of a scholarship to support Indigenous students attending the Edwards School of Business, as well as the opening of the Grit and Scott McCreath Active Learning Classroom in the College of Education in 2019. Their support includes a recent $1-million gift, a portion of which will support a student success fund at the University Library, where a dedicated space has been named in recognition of the duo.

On June 19, 2025, a special farewell reception was held at Convocation Hall to thank Grit McCreath for her dedication to USask in her role as Chancellor. A painting of McCreath, created by artist Sloan Oliver-Mitchell, features personal references, including books that are important to McCreath, a family picture in the background, and a ceramic rabbit that McCreath’s mother brought to Canada from Germany.

McCreath said she will now carry her USask memories with her forever, noting “the whole USask family is second to none anywhere.”

“So many incredible people and overwhelming memories fill my heart with joy,” she said.