Mr. Terry Sargeant, Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Manitoba, is pleased to announce the election of Harvey Secter as Chancellor effective January 1, 2010. Mr. Secter, a highly respected business, community and academic leader with a long history with the University, will be the 13th Chancellor of the University of Manitoba

The election of Mr. Secter took place at the December 8th meeting of the Committee of Election. This committee was established in The University of Manitoba Act for the sole purpose of electing a Chancellor. Its membership consists of all members of the Board of Governors and of Senate, and is chaired by the Chair of the Board of Governors.

The Chancellor, as titular head of the University, confers all degrees and diplomas, and plays a leading role in advancing the University. The University’s 12th Chancellor, Dr. Bill Norrie, will step down on December 31st after nine years of distinguished service to the University of Manitoba.

“Mr. Secter is an exceptional choice for this important position,” says Terry Sargeant. “He brings with him a distinguished career as a businessman and academic who is dedicated to the value of education in the pursuit of excellence. I know he will represent the University of Manitoba with pride.”

Mr. Secter received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba in 1967. Following graduation, he directed the growth of Ricki’s Canada Limited, a family retail business, from a ten store chain to a multi-divisional national operation of 150 stores. A leader in the Winnipeg community, Mr. Secter was also a member of the ownership group of the Winnipeg Jets. He pursued his business career until 1988 when he returned to the University of Manitoba as a student.

Graduating from the Faculty of Law with the Gold Medal in Law in 1992, Mr. Secter went on to pursue a Master of Law at Harvard Law School. He then became a visiting researcher and instructor at Harvard’s Program on Negotiation where he assisted in teaching courses and workshops in negotiation and mediation. Mr. Secter also acted as an instructor at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law from 1995 to 1999.

In 1999, Mr. Secter was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba – just seven years after he graduated from that same faculty. He served in this position with distinction until 2008.

Following his decade of service to the Faculty of Law, Mr. Secter retired in 2008. He continues his practice in mediation and arbitration. He serves on corporate boards as Director of FPCN General Partnership Inc., a Trustee of the FP Newspapers Income Fund and as a Director of James Richardson & Sons, Limited.

Mr. Secter is also an active community philanthropist and volunteer. He is Past President of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba and is a current member of the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council, the Board of the Health Sciences Centre Foundation, the United Way Advisory Committee, and the Assiniboine Park Conservancy.

“I am pleased that Mr. Secter has been elected as Chancellor,” says Dr. David Barnard, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manitoba. “He is an exemplary role model to our students and the broader community, having demonstrated excellence and commitment to community throughout his career.  I am confident he will serve the University of Manitoba with distinction.”

Among Mr. Secter’s many honours, awards and appointments are an honorary doctorate from the University of Winnipeg, the Sol Kanee Distinguished Community Service Award from the University of Manitoba, and, with his wife, Sandra, the Negev Award for Community Service.

For more information, contact John Danakas, director, public affairs department, at: 204-474-8551.