Lakehead University’s seventh chancellor, Arthur Mauro sees establishing a law school in the city as his biggest accomplishment.
The 86-year-old grandfather of five finished his three-year term as the university’s chancellors in December. The local lawyer studied law at the University of Manitoba before being called to the bar in 1953. He eventually returned home and later in his life took on the responsibility of being the unversity's chancellor.
Although he was involved in many projects, he said bringing in the law school was a task close to his heart. “(The law school) is a rounding out of the school,” he said. “Lakehead has a medical faculty and strong engineering but getting the first law school in 42 years is an achievement. It’s impetrative in this geography of Canada particularly for the indigenous people to be reflected in our common law system.”
Mauro continued his practice until 1969 before being appointed as chairman of the Royal Commission on Northern Transportation and becoming senior executive with Great Northern Capital Corporation.
Mauro also received an honorary doctorate from Lakehead in 1997. The also received the order of Canada in 1987 and Order of Manitoba in 2004.
Mauro was honoured for his achievements at a special event Monday. He said he felt both relief and regret now that he had finished his responsibilities as chancellor. “I’m very passionate about this institution,” he said. “I felt honoured to be able to play one small part in the ongoing growth of this institution. I keep saying the only valuable item I have is time but I hope to continue to have some contact with Lakehead.”
He added he will continue working in the North including some teaching and working on improving Aboriginal education.
Lakehead University president Brian Stevenson said Mauro was a source of guidance when he first took on the university’s top job. “He was instrumental in convincing the government to get the law school,” he said. “He certainly helped me to develop an economic development strategy for the university. Those conversations started even before I started my term as president.”
He said the chancellor that will take over for Mauro will be in his new position starting at the end of May.
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