 Our Speaker, Dr. Ed McCauley  Maxine Morrison Thanking Our Speaker |
| Craig Henderson introduced Dr. Ed McCauley, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary. Dr. McCauley began his term in January as the culmination of a thirty-year career at the university, having served previously as a Canada Research Chair in Population Ecology and the university's Vice-President (Research). Dr. McCauley is deeply committed to supporting excellence in research and innovation. Dr. McCauley's remarks touched on the highlights of the university's Creating Impact Community Report 2019 that is available as a download from the university's website. The University of Calgary is one of Canada’s premier research institutes that contributes to the body of knowledge and engages students in learning and innovation. The university promotes understanding and social justice, improves quality of life, and helps to secure a prosperous and sustainable future. As such, the university draws disruptors, instigators and those who inspire hope and dispel uncertainty by seeking answers to humanity’s most significant challenges. Dr. McCauley noted that every economic jurisdiction with a high quality of life has a strong partnership between the community and a great research university. |
He described the university's rapid growth since the 1960s and told us that the university now has five campuses, including locations in downtown Calgary, Spy Hill and the W.A. Ranches. The ranch has a 19,000-acre cattle ranching operation that is transforming veterinary education to meet the needs of Alberta’s veterinary community and Canada’s livestock industry. Additionally, the university has assumed the University Research Park from the Government of Alberta.
The research park comprises 76 acres and three buildings, to create a world-class research and innovation ecosystem. In 2018-19, the university opened the Life Sciences Innovation Hub, a business accelerator supporting Calgary's growing life sciences sector.
Dr. McCauley described how the University of Calgary is becoming a destination of choice as a research powerhouse, especially in energy and agricultural research. At the conclusion of his presentation, Maxine Morrison thanked our speaker.