USask chancellor to step down following completion of term
SASKATOON—Following the completion of his three-year term as chancellor on June 30, 2019 at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), Roy Romanow will step down from the position he has held since 2016.
“It has been an immense privilege to serve the university in this role. All of the opportunities in my life flowed from my time at the University of Saskatchewan and it was my honour to help our university build on its standing as one of the best in Canada,” said Romanow, a former Premier of Saskatchewan who has long been connected to USask and earned a bachelor of arts and a law degree from USask.
“I will remain available to be of any assistance I can to support initiatives and directions of the president,” said Romanow. “I am grateful for the leadership of President Peter Stoicheff and his outstanding team at the university.”
Romanow, currently a Senior Policy Fellow in the College of Arts and Science, had a long political career that began in 1967 when he was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature. From 1971 to 1982 he served as Deputy Premier and Attorney General of Saskatchewan. He played a key role in the federal-provincial negotiations that resulted in the Constitution Act 1982, which includes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 1987, Romanow became the Leader of the Opposition and served in this role until 1991. He then served as Premier of Saskatchewan from 1991 to 2001.
After his tenure as premier, Romanow was appointed by then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in 2001 to head the Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, which resulted in a final report entitled Building on Values. He is an officer of the Order of Canada and was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. In 2004, he became a member of the federal Privy Council through a five-year appointment to Canada’s Security Intelligence Review Committee.
“It is an honour to have Mr. Romanow, an individual of immense national stature, serve our institution in this capacity,” said Peter Stoicheff, USask president and vice-chancellor. “I greatly enjoy working with Roy, and advancing key institutional priorities over the last number of years, including launching our university plan. I know he will continue to be a proud ambassador for our university and a shining example of what it means to be a graduate of our great institution.”
The search for USask’s next chancellor will begin shortly. Duties of the USask chancellor include presiding over university convocation ceremonies, conferring degrees, chairing University Senate and serving as an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors. The deadline for nominations for the position of chancellor is February 28, 2019. The nomination committee will take forward a recommendation to the April 27, 2019 meeting of University Senate.
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