Retired Vice-Chairman of RBC and former member of Acadia’s Board of Governors will succeed outgoing Chancellor Libby Burnham (’60)

The Chair of Acadia’s Board of Governors, John Rogers (’79), today announced that alumnus Bruce Galloway (’68) has been chosen as the University’s Seventh Chancellor. Galloway will succeed Libby Burnham (’60), Acadia’s first female Chancellor, when she concludes her seven-year term during this year’s Convocation ceremonies.

“I am delighted that the Board has selected Bruce to be Acadia’s next Chancellor,” said Rogers. “We have known Bruce as a Board member and supporter of Acadia and his affection for this community is boundless. At the same time, I want to thank Libby for everything she brought to Acadia during her term as Chancellor and the pattern she established for alumni and community engagement which Bruce will have to work hard to emulate. I speak for everyone at Acadia when I say to Libby that she has had enormous influence on everyone at Acadia and we intend to continue to rely upon her experience and expertise.”

Galloway came to Acadia in 1964 from his home in Montreal to study and to play football. An exceptional athlete, he played both offensive and defensive end for his first two years before switching exclusively to defensive end for his final two seasons. When Acadia celebrated 50 years of varsity football in 2006, Bruce was named a member of the 1960’s All-Decade team. Originally a science student, Galloway switched faculties and in 1968 graduated with his Bachelor of Commerce degree. Immediately following graduation, he joined the Royal Bank of Canada where he held progressively senior positions, ultimately being appointed Vice Chairman in 1994 and serving in this role until his retirement in 1999.

Since retirement, Galloway has remained active in the business world as a board member of several private and public sector companies and continues to offer today’s business leaders and entrepreneurs the benefit of his extensive experience. He is one of Acadia University’s most important volunteer leaders and benefactors, and he stands with a very select group who have made a unique contribution to the University’s institutional reputation for excellence.

He served on Acadia’s Board of Governors from 1991 to 2009 and served three years as Acadia’s Manning School of Business Executive-in-Residence between 1999 and 2002. In 2013, he stepped forward to lead the Twenty Wing campaign to renovate Patterson Hall as the new home of the Manning School of Business and was the campaign’s first donor. In addition to the Patterson Hall project, Galloway has been a generous donor to the new Stevens Centre, and the Sheila (Nickerson) Galloway Scholar-Bursary is awarded annually to an entering student from Nova Scotia on the basis of financial need and academic performance. For his extraordinary contributions to Acadia, Bruce was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Civil Laws in 2003 and recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015.

“Throughout his life and career, whether at Acadia, in business, or in community service, Bruce has led by example,” said Dr. Peter Ricketts, Acadia’s President and Vice-Chancellor. “He embodies the Acadia spirit and has mentored and inspired countless alumni to not only succeed in their chosen careers but to give back generously to their community. His roles as Chair of both Ovarian Cancer Canada and the Oakville Hospital Foundation exemplify his strong personal commitment to making our communities better, more caring places for everyone.”

“I am honored and delighted to be able to represent Acadia as its Chancellor,” said Galloway. “I am really looking forward to following in Libby’s and Chancellor Emeritus Arthur Irving’s footsteps, meeting students, faculty, alumni and supporters of this fine university and doing what I can to further its success.”

Galloway will be installed as Acadia’s Seventh Chancellor Monday, May 14, 2018 during Convocation for the Faculty of Professional Studies which includes graduates in Education, Community Development, Kinesiology, and, fittingly, Business.