Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
March 10, 1999
W.C. Winegard to speak as Winegard Visiting professor
The next speaker in the University of Guelph's W.C. Winegard Alumni Visiting Professorship Series is its namesake -- William C. Winegard, former U of G president and vice-chancellor and former federal minister of science.
"Science Policy in Canada: Who Decides?" is the topic of Winegard's free public lecture March 24 in the Ontario Veterinary College's Lifetime Learning Centre, Room 1714, at 3:30 p.m.
Winegard has a long and distinguished career as an engineer, politician and educator. He is best known in the public arena for his service as a Member of Parliament for Guelph from 1984 to 1993. During this time, he chaired the House of Commons standing committees on external affairs and national defence and external affairs and international trade. He also served as parliamentary secretary to the minister for international trade, and was Canada's first minister of science. He chairs a newly-established committee to allocate the Premier's Research Excellence Awards. He was named Officer of the Order of Canada in 1998.
Winegard served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II and was educated at the University of Toronto, where he studied metallurgical engineering. By 1964, he had become professor of metallurgy and assistant dean, School of Graduate Studies, at the U of T.
In 1967, he became president and vice-chancellor of U of G, a position he held until 1975. While president, Winegard oversaw a period of great expansion that led to additional offerings in the humanities, social sciences and basic sciences. The Winegard Medal, which is presented annually to a graduating student excelling in both academic and extracurricular activities, was named in his honour.
Winegard wrote Introduction to the Solidification of Metals, which has been published in English, French, Japanese and Russian, and authored about 100 articles in refereed journals. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Metals and a Fellow of U of G, and has received honorary degrees from the University of Toronto, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Laurentian University, Hong Kong Baptist University and McMaster University.
The Winegard Alumni Visiting Professorship Series was established in 1975 by the Alma Mater Fund Advisory Council in recognition of Winegard's contributions. The series allows the University to bring in distinguished professors from around the world to enhance academic programs. The annual program is designated to a different college each year; this year it is in the Ontario Agricultural College, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary.
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