In a press release on April 28, Principal Patrick Deane announced that Queen’s has selected Murray Sinclair to serve as the University’s 15th Chancellor.

Chancellor-Designate Sinclair is an experienced national leader who will offer guidance and insight to the University. He begins his new role on July 1.

Following an extensive consultation with the Queen’s community which included a nomination process open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni, the advisory committee, chaired by Principal Deane, developed a list of 10 attributes the next chancellor should possess. Attributes included “demonstrated commitments to sustainability, and equity, inclusion, and Indigeneity.”

Prior to his appointment, Sinclair served as the chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and acted as Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge.

Chancellor-Designate Sinclair received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Winnipeg and proceeded to graduate from the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba in 1979. Over his academic career, Sinclair has received honorary doctorates from 14 different universities—including one from Queen’s in 2019.

As the appointed Chancellor, Sinclair will sit on both the University Council and Board of Trustees, as well as other committees for each. The Chancellor will also preside over convocation ceremonies, confer degrees, and sit on the Senate committee that bestows honorary degrees each year.

“Joining Queen’s at this time is an important opportunity to recognize the change in this institution and the work we do together for future generations of students. I look forward to contributing to the new vision at Queen’s University,” Chancellor-Designate Sinclair said in the press release.