Past Chairs of the Board of Governors

Mr. Isaac Pitblado, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Barrister-at-law, former Registrar of the University, was appointed Chairman of the Board of Governors of The University of Manitoba on April 27th, 1917. He held that office continuously until about May 15th, 1924, when he tendered his resignation. Mr. Pitblado has been throughout his career one of the leaders of the Manitoba Bar. He rendered distinguished service to the University.

Mr. John A. Machray, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Barrister-at-law, was appointed Chairman of the Board of Governors on July 8th, 1924, and held that office until his withdrawal late in 1932, due to the unsatisfactory state of the finances of the University which came under his management. The Vice-Chairman of the Board - Mr. R. W. Craig, K.C. - directed the business of the Board until April, 1933. He died in the Stoney Mountain Penitentiary March, 1933.

Mr. Dalton C. Coleman, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Vice-President at Winnipeg of the Canadian Pacific Railway was appointed Chairman of the Board by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council on May 5th, 1933. He held his office under that appointment until the Board was fully constituted under The University Amendment Act 1933. He was then elected Chairman by the members of the Board. Mr. Coleman remained Chairman and a member of the Board until October 1st, 1934, when he resigned to accept the Vice-Presidency of the C.P.R. Later he became Chairman and President of his company. Mr. Coleman rendered distinguished service when times were most difficult

Mr. Justice A. K. Dysart, Winnipeg, Manitoba, was appointed Vice-Chairman when Mr. Coleman was made Chairman. He was made Chairman when Mr. Coleman resigned. Mr. Justice Dysart held office from the early days of June, 1933 until March, 1944, when he tendered his resignation to accept the office of Chancellor, which he has held with distinction to the date of his death, July 24th, 1952. Mr. Justice Dysart was a Justice of the Court of Appeal in Manitoba.

Mr. Justice H. A. Bergman, Winnipeg, Manitoba, was appointed to the Board on May 1, 1933. He was made Vice-Chairman of the Board on October 10, 1934 when Justice Dysart was named Chairman. He served as Chairman of the Board from April 13, 1944 until October 10, 1946 when he tendered his resignation. Mr. Justice Bergman was a Justice of the Court of Appeal of Manitoba. No one ever gave more freely of his time and fine talents in the service of the University. He died January, 1948.

Mr. W. J. Parker, Winnipeg, Manitoba, farmer and President of the Manitoba Pool Elevators, was elected Vice-Chairman on October 11th, 1945, and Chairman on January 9th, 1947. Mr. Parker, who is a graduate of the University, served continuously as a member of the Board from October 3rd, 1933 to May 31st, 1950, when he resigned.

Mr. Victor Sifton, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Publisher, Winnipeg Free Press, was elected Vice-Chairman of the Board May 31st, 1948 and was elected Chairman of the Board on June 1st, 1950. Mr. Sifton resigned as Chairman of the Board and from his position as a member of the Board and was appointed Chancellor on the 30th of September, 1952.

Mr. Justice Paul G. DuVal of the Court of Queen's Bench was elected Chairman of the Board on October 16th, 1952. Mr. Justice Duval, uncle of President H. H. Saunderson, resigned from the Board May 31st, 1955

Mr. A. R. Tucker, General Manager, Western Division of the T.EATON CO. was appointed to the Board June 1st, 1955 and was elected Chairman at that time. Mr. Tucker declined nomination as Chairman in election of June 1960 but was elected to Executive as member from Board.

Mr. George T. Richardson, Vice-President of the firm of James Richardson and Sons, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Mr. Richardson is a son of the late James A. Richardson and Mrs. Richardson of Winnipeg. Mr. Richardson was appointed to the Board on September 27th, 1955, has served on the Executive Committee in the capacity of Vice Chairman and member from Board. Elected Chairman on June 20th, 1960. Mr. Richardson declined nomination as Chairman in election of June 1964, but was elected to Executive as member from Board. He resigned from Board July 12, 1966.

Dr. Peter D. Curry, President of Peter D. Curry Company Ltd. and a prominent Winnipeg businessman. Dr. Curry was appointed to the Board of Governors on September 5, 1956, and has served on the Executive Committee since June 1959 and in the capacity of Vice-Chairman since June 1960. Dr. Curry was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree September 1963, and was elected Chairman of the Board on June 23, 1964. Appointed Chancellor June 1968.

Mr. F. O. Meighen, Q.C., was a prominent lawyer from Brandon, Manitoba. Mr. Meighen was appointed to the Board on October 24, 1962. He was elected Vice Chairman of the Board on June 23, 1964 and was elected Chairman on June 1, 1968. He resigned from the Board December 16th, 1969.

Mr. M. J. Arpin, Q.C., was appointed to the Board of Governors on June 1st, 1967. Mr. Arpin was appointed Vice-Chairman on June 1st, 1968 and was elected Chairman on December 16th, 1969. Mr. Arpin is a former member of the Board of St. Boniface Hospital. His term expired May 31, 1971. He died April 25, 1983.

The Honourable Mr. Justice R. G. B. Dickson, Judge of the Court of Appeal in the Province of Manitoba, who was appointed to the Board on May 1st, 1971. Mr. Justice Dickson was appointed Chairman in June 1971 and re-elected Chairman in June 1972. He resigned from the Board in March 1973 on his appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Mr. Peter A. Cain, Vice-President (Mining) Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd., Lynn Lake who was first appointed to the Board on October 24, 1968. Mr. Cain served on the Executive Committee since 1969 and in the capacity of Vice-Chairman since 1971. He was elected Chairman of the Board April 14, 1973. Mr. Cain resigned from the Board May 31, 1975 on his appointment as Vice President Operations - McIntyre Mines Ltd. of Toronto

Dr. Sol Kanee, Soo Line Mills who was first appointed to the Board May 28, 1975. Elected as Chairman June 26, 1975 and resigned (as Chairman) August 29, 1975. He resigned as a member of the Board November 7, 1977.

Mr. W. Raymond McQuade, Engineer and Partner, Cowin Steel Co. Ltd. who was first elected to the Board May 27, 1974 by the Alumni Association. Mr. McQuade was elected as Chairman September 25, 1975. He was re-elected (by acclamation) to a three year term on the Board, effective June 1, 1977. He was annually re-elected Chairman of the Board until his term as a member of the Board expired on May 31, 1980.

Dr. Louis C. Melosky, was a Winnipeg Orthodontist and part-time staff member in the Faculty of Dentistry. Dr. Melosky was appointed to the Board by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council on June 1, 1978. He was elected Chairman on June 24, 1980.

Dr. Alexander M. (Mac) Runciman, former President of United Grain Growers for 20 years and director of a number of Canadian companies. Dr. Runciman was elected to the Board by the graduates June 1, 1982 and was elected Chairman on June 23, 1983.

Mr. David Malaher, Consultant in Computer Installations, Mechanical Engineering Graduate from U. of M. , elected by graduates in June 1984, and re-elected for a further three-year term on June 1, 1987. He was elected Chair of the Board of Governors in June 1988.

Mr. William. H. Mitchell, former partner in engineering consulting firm of Scouten, Mitchell, Sigurdson and Associates. Mr. Mitchell was elected to the Board by the graduates in 1986, and was elected Vice-Chair in 1989 and Chair in 1991.

Mr. Keith Findlay, Chartered Accountant with Scarrow and Donald. Elected to the Board by Government in December1988. Served as Vice-Chair from 1991 to 1994 when he was elected Chair. He served as Chair until December 1995.

Mrs. Pamela LeBoldus - Past-President of Alumni Association. She was elected to the Board as a representative of the Graduates in 1988. She served as Vice-Chair from 1994 to 1996. Elected Chair in January 1995 and served in this capacity until May 31, 1997.

Mr. Paul M. Soubry, Sr., former Vice-President and General Manager of New Holland (Versatile), and upon retirement established the management consulting firm, Soubry Enterprises Ltd.. Appointed by Government in February 1996, served as Vice-Chair 1996 to 1997, and elected as Chair in June 1997 and served as Chair until June 2002. In October, 2003 Mr. Soubry was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by the University of Manitoba.

Mr. Wayne R. Anderson, President of the St. Boniface Pallet Company. Elected to the Board as a representative of the Graduates in 1998, and re-elected in 2001 and 2004. Served as Vice-Chair from September, 2000 to June 2002 and elected as Chair in June, 2002 and served until June 20, 2006.  He served on the Board until May 31, 2007. He was awarded the Peter D. Curry Chancellor's Award in recognition of his service to the University.

Mr. Terry Sargeant, Chairman of the Clean Environment Commission, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and former Member of Parliament.  Appointed to the Board by the Government of Manitoba in 2001, elected Chair in 2007, and served until June of 2010.  Mr. Sargeant was honoured by the University of Manitoba in 2011 with an honorary doctor of laws degree.

Ms. Janice Lederman, partner with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Appointed to the Board by the Government of Manitoba in 2006, elected Chair in 2010. Ms. Lederman was presented with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by President Barnard in 2012.

Senator Patricia Bovey, Winnipeg-based art historian, consultant and Director Emerita of the Winnipeg Art Gallery.  Appointed to the Board by the Government of Manitoba in 2007, elected Chair in 2013 and served in this capacity until June 22, 2016.  Senator Bovey was appointed to the Senate of Canada on November 15, 2016.

Mr. Ted Bock, partner with MLT Aikins LLP, Winnipeg Manitoba. Appointed to the Board of Governors by the Government of Manitoba in 2010. Served as Vice-Chair from 2015 until 2016 when he was elected Chair.

Mr. Rennie Zegalski was first elected to the Board by the graduates of the University in 2010, re-elected in 2013 and 2016. He was elected Chair of the Board on January 31, 2017 and served as Chair until the end of his term in June of 2017.

Mr. Jeff Lieberman was first elected to the Board by the University of Manitoba Alumni Association.  He was elected Chair in June of 2017 and stepped down from his role as Chair in June of 2021.

Ms. Laurel Hyde was first appointed to the Board by the Government of Manitoba in January of 2017.  She was elected as Vice-Chair in 2019 and as Chair in June of 2021.  She stepped down from her role as Chair in June of 2023.