University of Regina Board Chair Cathy Warner responds to appointment of Dr. Vianne Timmons to the Order of Canada

News Release Release Date: December 29, 2017 3:10 p.m.

Cathy Warner, Chair of the University of Regina Board of Governors, today responded to the appointment of President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vianne Timmons as an Officer of the Order of Canada.  The appointment was announced earlier today by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada.

“The Order of Canada’s motto – ‘They desire a better country’ – accurately describes Dr. Timmons,” says Ms. Warner.  “Whether conducting research to benefit persons marginalized by disability or challenges with literacy, advocating for the post-secondary sector and Indigenous education, or championing diversity as an important part of Canada’s future, her focus is always on making our country a better place to live.  It is fitting, then, that she is being recognized with this honour as we mark the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation.”

The Order of Canada is one of Canada’s highest civilian honours, and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation.  Dr. Timmons has been appointed an Officer of the Order for, among other things, her longstanding work in the areas of inclusive education for persons with disabilities, family literacy, and women’s leadership.

“This is a tremendous honour because of what it represents – an acknowledgement that together with many colleagues over the years, I have played some small part in a larger national movement to help Canada move forward positively as a society,” says Dr. Timmons.  “With this appointment comes added responsibility, however, because many of Canada’s longstanding ideals – inclusiveness, tolerance and mutual respect – seem to be increasingly under threat.  My hope is that as an Officer of the Order of Canada, I can continue to advance and promote these ideals for the next generation of Canada’s leaders, on whom we will depend so much in the years to come.”

In addition to having served as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Regina since 2008, Dr. Timmons has maintained an active academic research program centred on family literacy and inclusive education.  She has also served as President of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Chair of the Canadian Bureau for International Education.  She is currently Chair of Universities Canada’s Standing Committee on International Relations, and Co-Chair of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

Dr. Timmons has been recognized with a number of awards throughout her career.  These include:

  • Being named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women” in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011;
  • Receiving the Canada Post Literacy Award in 2009 and the Canadian Association for Community Living’s National Inclusive Education Award in 2010;
  • Being recognized by the Red Cross with its Humanitarian Award in 2013;
  • Receiving the Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada Recognition Award in 2014 for promoting and supporting diversity within Canadian academic institutions; and
  • Being named the CTV Regina 2016 Citizen of the Year.

 Dr. Timmons will be formally invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada at Rideau Hall at a ceremony in Ottawa in 2018.