McCallum BU’s first Indigenous, female chancellor

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This article was published 07/05/2021 (1797 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon University announced on Thursday that Canadian Sen. Mary Jane McCallum has been appointed as the school’s newest chancellor, making her the first Indigenous person and woman to take on the role.

According to a BU news release, McCallum was recently confirmed by the BU Senate and will take the oath of office ahead of the university’s upcoming spring convocation, during which she will be tasked with conferring degrees upon this year’s graduates.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled,” BU president David Docherty said in Thursday’s release.

“Senator Mary Jane McCallum inspires us all, she is full of energy and action, and we will greatly benefit from her knowledge and experience as Brandon University works toward Reconciliation and continues to grow.”

At BU, the chancellor is the formal head of the university who serves on both the Senate and the Board of Governors.

On top of presiding over graduation ceremonies, the chancellor also serves as a general ambassador for the school, where they are assigned to promote its values and mission statement more broadly.

In Thursday’s release, McCallum stated that she was excited about this part of the job, since her character, up until this point, has been shaped by sharing different teachings and ceremonies with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike.

“As your new chancellor, I greatly look forward to the opportunity to meet with students, faculty, alumni and members of the wider Brandon University community,” she said. “I know these encounters will continue to shape and influence me in a positive way, and I look forward to learning all that I can from each of you.”

McCallum is of Cree heritage and a self-described advocate of social justice. She is also a citizen of the Barren Lands First Nation.

On top of her career in politics — being appointed to the Canadian Senate in 2017 — McCallum is mostly known for her work in the field of dentistry, having received a dental nursing diploma at the Wascana Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in 1977 and a dental therapy diploma at the School of Dental Therapy in 1979.

From 1979 to 1997, she was involved in the dental field in various capacities, including as a dental therapist in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba communities.

She eventually earned a doctorate in dental medicine from the University of Manitoba in 1990.

Throughout the next couple decades, McCallum spent a lot of time working in her home community, where she managed health programs, including a children’s dental program, a diabetes program and prenatal program.

In addition to her professional endeavours, McCallum regularly leads workshops and presentations in which she shares her personal experience as a residential school survivor, having attended the Guy Hill Residential School in The Pas for more than a decade.

This kind of advocacy bleeds into McCallum’s role as an independent Senator as well, having recently tabled a motion calling on the Canadian government to add an anti-racism pillar to the Canada Health Act.

Although officially retiring from dentistry last month, she remains a non-practising member of the Manitoba Dental Association.

As BU’s newest chancellor, McCallum will be taking over for Michael Decter, who has been holding this position since 2013. The Brandon University Act limits chancellors to two terms.

“All of us at Brandon University have drawn enormously on Michael Decter’s guidance and wisdom over the past years, and owe him every thanks,” Docherty said. “We are presenting Senator McCallum with a robust chancellorship and eagerly anticipate the great things she will bring to the role.”

» The Brandon Sun