Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
February 17, 2005
U of G to Honour Winegard
The University of Guelph will award an honorary degree to its former president and vice-chancellor Bill Winegard Feb. 24 during winter convocation.
Winegard came to U of G three years after its founding in 1964. During his tenure, Winegard oversaw expansion in the areas of humanities, social sciences and basic science, gave students an official voice in the governance process, opened Senate meetings to the public and was instrumental in helping to create the Arboretum, among other things. U of G’s Winegard Medal and Winegard Walk are named in his honour.
"Dr. Winegard was the intellectual founder who set the tone for the modern-day University of Guelph,” said U of G president Alastair Summerlee. “He personally recruited many of our talented faculty members and carefully guided the University thorough its formative years. It is not often that a university can honour one of its founding fathers in this way, so we are delighted to have the opportunity."
After retiring from academia and U of G in 1975, Winegard served as a member of Parliament for Guelph from 1984 to 1993. During this time, he was Canada’s first minister of science and 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 of international trade.
In addition, Winegard remains active in public service by chairing a provincial committee to allocate the Premier’s Research Excellence Awards. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1998.
Winegard will receive his honorary doctor of laws degree during the 10 a.m. ceremony for the College of Biological Science and the Ontario Veterinary College.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rebecca Kendall, Ext. 56982.
