University Chancellor
Blaine C. Favel
Blaine Favel was elected Chancellor effective July 1, 2013 for a three-year term, replacing Vera Pezer (BA’62, MA’64, PhD’77) who was first elected in 2007 and served two full terms. His appointment was confirmed at a meeting of University Senate April 20 based on the recommendation of a joint nomination committee.
Mr. Favel, currently the CEO of One Earth Oil and Gas, is an influential Plains Cree leader who has made significant contributions to scholarship, education, public service and the Canadian public good. He has earned two other degrees—a law degree from Queen’s University and a master of business administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Business—and was given an honorary doctor of laws from the U of S in 2012.
He was Chief of the Poundmaker Cree Nation and served as Grand Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations from 1994-98. During that time, he led the development of the First Nations Bank of Canada and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. Mr. Favel was also a senior diplomat as the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Counsellor on International Indigenous Issues, served as a special advisor to the Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, and was a panellist on the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
As chancellor, Mr. Favel will preside at university convocation ceremonies, confer degrees, chair University Senate and take a seat as an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors.
Mr. Favel resides in Calgary, Alberta and is a proud father to five children.
