TORONTO, March 4, 2008 -- The Board of Governors of York University is pleased to announce the appointment of the Hon. Roy McMurtry, former Ontario chief justice and attorney general and Canadian high commissioner to United Kingdom, as 12^th chancellor of York University. He will be installed as Chancellor on May 23, 2008.

“Roy McMurtry has helped shape the legal and social framework of Ontario, and York University is fortunate to have him in this important leadership role,” said Marshall Cohen, Chair of York’s Board of Governors.   

McMurtry will succeed former Canadian Supreme Court Justice Peter deCarteret Cory, who has served as York’s Chancellor since 2004.

“Peter deCarteret Cory has done an outstanding job as chancellor and ambassador for York over the last four years,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri.  “And I have no doubt that York will benefit greatly from Roy McMurtry’s vision and leadership in the years to come.”   

Born in Toronto, McMurtry is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1958. He received an honours degree in History from the University of Toronto. After practicing as a trial lawyer for 17 years, he was elected to the Ontario legislature in 1975, where he was appointed attorney general by then-Premier William G. Davis. As attorney general, McMurtry argued major constitutional cases in the Supreme Court of Canada and played a key role in the proclamation of Canada’s new Constitution in 1982. From 1978 until 1982 he also took on the position of solicitor general.

McMurtry left office in 1985 to become Canada’s high commissioner (ambassador) to the United Kingdom. In this role he chaired the Commonwealth Heads of Government Committee (on South Africa), which played an important role in ending apartheid in South Africa and freeing Nelson Mandela from prison.

In 1996, he was appointed as chief justice of Ontario. 

Prior to his political career, McMurtry was involved in a wide range of public service, including Big Brothers, rehabilitation projects for former penitentiary inmates, senior citizens’ housing and multicultural initiatives.  He is a longtime supporter of adult education, dating back to his university days when he worked and taught at Frontier College, one of Canada’s first adult education institutions.

“With its commitment to social justice, its innovative approach to education and the limitless potential of its students, York University has so much to offer this province and this country,” said McMurtry. “I am delighted and humbled to have the opportunity serve as Chancellor of York.”

McMurtry is the founder and president of The Osgoode Society, a body established in 1979 for the writing of Canadian legal history.  Last year, his significant contributions to the legal profession were recognized with Osgoode Hall Law School’s Award of Excellence (The Robinette Medal) and the President of the Canadian Bar Association’s Award of Merit. 

McMurtry is married to Ria Jean Macrae, with whom he has six children. He will be installed officially in his new role as Chancellor this spring.  He will be available for media interviews on Tuesday by appointment.

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 24 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

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