Peter MacKinnon

R. Peter MacKinnon
Born	1947 (age 68–69) Prince Edward Island
Occupation	lawyer and legal academic
Known for	President of the University of Saskatchewan
Awards	Order of Canada

R. Peter MacKinnon, OC QC (born 1947) served as the president of the University of Saskatchewan from 1999 to 2012. On July 1, 2014, he began a one-year term as interim president of Athabasca University.^[1] He's also a Canadian lawyer and legal academic.

Biography

Born in Prince Edward Island, he received a BA from Dalhousie University, an LL.B from Queen's University and a LL.M from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Ontario Bar and Saskatchewan Bar. He was created a Queen's Counsel in 1990. He is married to Janice MacKinnon, a Canadian historian and former Minister of Finance for the Province of Saskatchewan. They have two children, Alan and William.

In 1975, he joined the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan as an Assistant Professor of Law. He became an Associate Professor in 1978 and a Professor in 1983. From 1979 to 1981, he was the Assistant Dean of Law and was the Dean of Law from 1988 to 1998. In 1999, he was appointed the eighth President of the University of Saskatchewan. On March 9, MacKinnon announced that he would be stepping down as President of the University of Saskatchewan, effective June 30, 2012.^[2] He is succeeded by Ilene Busch-Vishniac, former provost and vice-president (academic) at McMaster University.^[3]

From 2003 to 2005, he was the chairman of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the organization representing Canada's universities.

In 2006, it was reported that he was one of three "short list" candidates to be recommended to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada replacing the retired justice John C. Major.^[4]

In 2011, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to education and for his commitment to innovation and research excellence".^[5]

In 2012, the Board of Governors of the University of Saskatchewan renamed the College Building the Peter MacKinnon Building.^[6]

Notes

1. "University names interim president". Athabasca University. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
2. The StarPhoenix March 9, 2011. "U of S president Peter MacKinnon announces resignation". Thestarphoenix.com. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
3. "U of S announces next president". CBC News. December 19, 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
4. "This page is available to GlobePlus subscribers". Theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
5. "Appointments to the Order of Canada".
6. "U of S renames historic College Building to honour President MacKinnon".

References

• "University of Saskatchewan profile". Retrieved May 22, 2008.