List of Canadian university leaders

This list of Canadian university leaders includes the chancellors and vice-chancellors of Canadian universities. In most cases, the chancellor is an outside ceremonial head, while the vice-chancellor is the on-site academic leader. The vice-chancellor usually holds the position of president.

Universities with both a Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor

UniversityProvince/Territory Chancellor Vice-Chancellor/President Acadia UniversityNova ScotiaNancy McCainJeff Hennessy Algoma UniversityOntario Mario Turco (until 2028) Kofi Campbell Bishop's UniversityQuebec Daniel FournierSébastien Lebel-Grenier (principal; until 2028) Brandon UniversityManitoba Mary Jane McCallum Christine Bovis-Cnossen Brock UniversityOntario Hilary Pearson Lesley Rigg Capilano UniversityBritish Columbia Debra Doucette Jason Dewling (2026–2031) Cape Breton UniversityNova Scotia Annette Verschuren David Wheeler Carleton UniversityOntario Nik NanosWisdom Tettey Concordia UniversityQuebec Jonathan Wener Graham CarrConcordia University of EdmontonAlberta Alan Huehn Tim Loreman Crandall UniversityNew Brunswick Donald Simmonds Bruce Fawcett Dalhousie UniversityNova ScotiaRustum SouthwellKim Brooks (until 2028) Emily Carr University of Art and DesignBritish Columbia Carleen ThomasTrish Kelly Huntington UniversityOntario Bela Ravi Kevin McCormick Kwantlen Polytechnic UniversityBritish ColumbiaKim Baird Bruce Choy Lakehead UniversityOntarioRita Shelton Deverell Gillian Siddall Laurentian UniversityOntarioKristan StraubLynn Wells McGill UniversityQuebec Pierre Boivin Deep Saini McMaster UniversityOntario Santee Smith David Farrar Memorial University of NewfoundlandNewfoundland and Labrador Earl Ludlow Janet Morrison Mount Allison UniversityNew BrunswickGeorge L. Cooper Ian Sutherland Mount Royal UniversityAlberta Arlene Strom Timothy Rahilly Mount Saint Vincent UniversityNova Scotia Joël Dickinson (acting since May 2025) Joël Dickinson Nipissing UniversityOntario Scott Russell Kevin Wamsley OCAD UniversityOntarioJamie WattAna Serrano Queen's University at KingstonOntarioShelagh RogersPatrick Deane (principal) Royal Military College of CanadaOntario David McGuinty (ex-officio as Minister of National Defence) Jill Scott (principal) Royal Roads UniversityBritish Columbia Nelson Chan Philip Steenkamp St. Francis Xavier UniversityNova Scotia Mila Mulroney Andrew Haken Saint Mary's UniversityNova Scotia Michael Durland Michael Khan Simon Fraser UniversityBritish ColumbiaTamara Vrooman Joy Johnson St. Thomas UniversityNew Brunswick Graydon Nicholas M. Nauman Farooqi Thompson Rivers UniversityBritish ColumbiaDeDe DeRose Arini Toronto Metropolitan UniversityOntario Donette Chin-Loy Chang Mohamed Lachemi Trent UniversityOntario Zabeen Hirji (until June 2029)Cathy Bruce University of AlbertaAlberta Nizar Somji (until 2028)Bill Flanagan University of British ColumbiaBritish Columbia Judy Rogers Benoit-Antoine Bacon University of CalgaryAlberta Jon Cornish Ed McCauley University of the Fraser ValleyBritish Columbia Jo-Ann Archibald James Mandigo University of GuelphOntario Mary Anne ChambersRene Van Acker University of King's CollegeNova Scotia Debra Deane Little William Lahey University of LethbridgeAlberta Terry Whitehead Digvir Jayas University of ManitobaManitobaDavid Angus Michael Benarroch Université de MonctonNew Brunswick Madeleine Dubé Denis Prud’hommeUniversité de MontréalQuebecFrantz SaintellemyDaniel Jutras University of New BrunswickNew Brunswick Wade MacLauchlan Paul Mazerolle University of Northern British ColumbiaBritish Columbia Darlene McIntosh Bill Owen (interim)Université de l'Ontario françaisOntarioPaul RouleauNorman Labrie University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyOntario Mitch Frazer Steven A. Murphy University of OttawaOntario Claudette Commanda Marie-Eve Sylvestre University of Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island Diane Griffin (until June 30, 2027) Wendy Rogers University of ReginaSaskatchewan Cadmus Delorme Jeff Keshen Université Sainte-AnneNova ScotiaNoël DesprésKenneth Deveau University of SaskatchewanSaskatchewanScott Banda Peter Stoicheff University of TorontoOntario Wesley J. Hall Melanie Woodin University of VictoriaBritish Columbia Marion Buller Robina Thomas (acting until October 14, 2026) University of WaterlooOntarioJagdeep Singh Bachher (until June 2027) Vivek Goel University of Western OntarioOntario Kelly Meighen Alan Shepard University of WindsorOntario Dwight Duncan John-Justin McMurty University of WinnipegManitoba Barb Gamey Jino Distasio (interim) Vancouver Island UniversityBritish Columbia Judith Sayers Dennis Johnson (interim for up to two years until June 2027) Wilfrid Laurier UniversityOntario Eileen Mercier Deborah MacLatchy York UniversityOntario Kathleen Taylor Rhonda Lenton

Universities with only a Vice-Chancellor +UniversityProvince/TerritoryVice-Chancellor/PresidentAlberta University of the ArtsAlbertaJanis GoldieAtlantic School of TheologyNova ScotiaHeather McCanceAthabasca UniversityAlbertaAlex ClarkCanadian Mennonite UniversityManitobaCheryl PaulsMacEwan UniversityAlbertaAnnette TrimbeeNova Scotia College of Art and Design UniversityNova ScotiaDavid B. Smith (interim)St. Stephen's UniversityNew BrunswickBradley Jersak (principal) Andrew Phillip Klager (vice-chancellor)Trinity Western UniversityBritish ColumbiaToddy MartinUniversité LavalQuebecSophie D'Amours (rector)Université de Saint-BonifaceManitobaSophia BouffardUniversity Canada WestBritish ColumbiaBashir MakhoulUniversity of FrederictonNew BrunswickDon RoyUniversity of Niagara Falls CanadaOntarioDavid GrayYorkville UniversityNew BrunswickJulia Christensen Hughes

Longevity Since the development of the university sector in Canada a small number of Vice Chancellors or Presidents or Principals have served for 20 years or more. They include: +UniversityProvinceNameYears servedMcGill UniversityQuebecSir John William Dawson38 years (1855–1893)University of New BrunswickNew BrunswickCecil Jones34 years (1906–1940)Bishop's UniversityQuebecJasper Hume Nicolls33 years (1845–1878)University of TorontoOntarioJohn McCaul32 years (1848–1880)University of New BrunswickNew BrunswickEdwin Jacob31 years (1829–1860)Dalhousie UniversityNova ScotiaJohn Forrest26 years (1885–1911)Bishop's UniversityQuebecArthur McGreer26 years (1922–1948)Acadia UniversityNova ScotiaArtemas Wyman Sawyer25 years (1869–1896)Queen's UniversityOntarioGeorge Munro Grant25 years (1877–1902)University of TorontoOntarioRobert Falconer25 years (1907–1932)University of British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaLeonard Klinck25 years (1919–1944)Acadia UniversityNova ScotiaFrederic Patterson25 years (1923–1948)University of New BrunswickNew BrunswickWilliam Brydone Jack24 years (1861–1885)McGill UniversityQuebecWilliam Peterson24 years (1885–1919)McGill UniversityQuebecFrank Cyril James23 years (1939–1962)Dalhousie UniversityNova ScotiaJames Ross22 years (1863–1885)University of TorontoOntarioJohn Strachan21 years (1827–1848)University of New BrunswickNew BrunswickThomas Harrison21 years (1885–1906)University of ManitobaManitobaJames MacLean21 years (1913–1934)University of AlbertaAlbertaHenry Marshall Tory20 years (1908–1928)Dalhousie UniversityNova ScotiaArthur Stanley McKenzie20 years (1911–1931)Western UniversityOntarioWilliam Sherwood Fox20 years (1927–1947)Western UniversityOntarioGeorge Hall20 years (1947–1967)

See also Lists of university leaders List of universities in Canada

References