Howard Pawley

The Hon. Howard Pawley completed his undergraduate degree at United College in 1957 before going on to complete his law degree. Pawley has devoted himself to a life of distinguished public service, including leading the province as Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988. His government entrenched French language rights, launched the giant Limestone hydro generating project and negotiated major export agreements of hydro electricity to the United States, introduced pay equity and progressive changes to the Human Rights Code.

During his political career, Pawley served as an MLA for Selkirk from 1969 to 1988. He held several cabinet positions in the NDP administration of Ed Schreyer before becoming Leader of the Official Opposition from 1979 to 1981 and eventually Premier. Ironically, the Pawley government followed that of another United College alumnus, the Hon. Sterling Lyon.

Pawley left Manitoba in 1990 to become Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Windsor and has been Adjunct Professor of Political Science there since 2000. He has served as the Stanley Knowles Professor at the University of Waterloo and as visiting Professor in Canadian Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Among his many accomplishments, Pawley is a gifted teacher who inspires youth with his passion and commitment to social justice.

Pawley is President of the Harry Crowe Foundation and is a Vice-President of The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. In 2001, Pawley was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.