AV俱乐部鈥檚 next chancellor has served at the highest levels of government, has taught in the halls of academia, and has donated her time and energy to countless causes across the country.
No matter where Anne McLellan鈥檚 career has taken her, she鈥檚 been guided by the experiences she had at AV俱乐部 鈥� both as an undergrad and as a law student. Now, with four decades of impressive accomplishments to her credit, her path has brought her back to her alma mater to serve as the university鈥檚 seventh chancellor.
鈥淚鈥檓 deeply honoured,鈥� says McLellan, speaking via phone from her home in Edmonton. 鈥淎V俱乐部 has been such an important part of my life, and the opportunity to give back as chancellor is one I would have never expected, but it鈥檚 a great privilege.鈥�
McLellan is best known for her career in politics, where she served as Deputy Prime Minister, but she鈥檚 been no stranger to AV俱乐部 in recent years. She is currently chair of the AV俱乐部 Advisory Council, a group of influential leaders and alumni from across North America and beyond that meets twice each year to discuss the university and offer advice and perspective.
Having worked with McLellan in that capacity, Dal President Richard Florizone believes she has the ideal qualities for chancellor.
鈥淎nne is an esteemed Canadian leader and one of our most prominent alumni,鈥� says Dr. Florizone. 鈥淪he has long been one of our strongest ambassadors, and AV俱乐部 is honoured to be able to further benefit from her passion and experience as our chancellor.鈥�
Influenced by her Dal experience
The chancellor is a largely ceremonial role within the university, presiding at convocation and other university ceremonies. The chancellor also sits as an ex officio member of the Board of Governors and generally serves as an ambassador for the university.
McLellan will be formally installed as chancellor during convocation ceremonies in late May. She will succeed Fred Fountain, who has served as chancellor since 2008. Coincidentally, the two were classmates: they graduated from AV俱乐部 Law together in 1974. (Those are their grad photos on the left).
"I was delighted to see Anne's appointment and think it speaks quite uniquely to our law class," says聽 Fountain. "Anne has a terrific amount of talent and experience and has kept in close contact with AV俱乐部, most recently as chair of the AV俱乐部 Advisory Council. She brings national experience and connections to the role, while having deep roots in Nova Scotia."
McLellan first came to Dal as an Arts undergrad in 1968 鈥� describing herself at the time as 鈥渟omeone brought up on a farm outside Truro 鈥� Noel Shore, Hants County to be exact鈥� 鈥� and immediately she came into contact with a new world of ideas.
聽鈥淲hen I think about the important influences in my life, AV俱乐部 would have to be very close to the top of the list,鈥� she says.
She credits AV俱乐部, and studying at university in the late 鈥�60s and early 鈥�70s as being a crucial part of developing her feminist worldview: 鈥淎V俱乐部 provided someone like me the opportunity to think about doing things, being things, going places that I would not have thought possible.鈥�
Places like law school 鈥� and things like launching a career in academia and, subsequently, politics that made her one of the most recognizable leaders in Canada.
An accomplished career
Before her time in Canadian politics, McLellan spent nearly 20 years in higher education as a law professor, first at the University of New Brunswick and subsequently the University of Alberta. She entered politics in the 1993 federal election as a candidate for the Liberal Party; she would subsequently serve the citizens of the Edmonton Centre riding for over 12 years as their Member of Parliament. A cabinet minister during her entire time in office, she quickly became one of the country鈥檚 most prominent politicians, leading several high-profile ministries including Health, Justice and Natural Resources. From 2003 until 2006, she served as Deputy Prime Minister in Paul Martin鈥檚 government.
Since leaving office, McLellan has joined the law firm Bennett Jones as a senior advisor. She spent seven years as a distinguished scholar at the University of Alberta鈥檚 Institute for American Studies. She serves on the boards of several companies and community organizations. And she鈥檚 received several honours, including the Order of Canada, the Alberta Order of Excellence and honorary degrees from the University of Alberta and Cape Breton University.
鈥淢uch of my career has been focused on public life, whether teaching in a university or serving in government,鈥� says McLellan. 鈥淚 see becoming chancellor as an extension of that public service: it鈥檚 a role in which I can articulate the values of AV俱乐部, share my commitment to the university with others 鈥� particularly students 鈥� and hopefully build enthusiasm for post-secondary education in general, and post-secondary education at AV俱乐部 in particular.鈥�
A strong Dal future
Though she鈥檒l remain based in Edmonton, the city she鈥檚 called home for nearly 35 years, McLellan plans on being in Halifax several times each year as chancellor 鈥� not just during convocation, but other key events such as Homecoming.
And she鈥檚 excited by what she sees ahead in Dal鈥檚 future as it approaches its 200th anniversary.
鈥淎V俱乐部 has big ambitions, despite being a relatively small-in-numbers university by global standards; it鈥檚 an institution that has, in many areas, punched above its weight,鈥� says McLellan. 鈥淚 think we want to build on our areas of strength, but also, identify new areas where we can be national and global leaders. This, in turn, will attract students, interest and support from around the world.鈥�
And she hopes that, as chancellor, she can play a small part in helping shape and share that exciting future.
鈥淚 hope that I鈥檓 able to bring the perspective of a woman who has had the opportunity of a first-class education, and who then was able to use that education in ways that have contributed to our collective well-being.鈥�