Businesswoman, philanthropist, community supporter Nancy Southern to receive honorary degree

trevor.kenney — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 21:26:03 +0000

One of Canada’s most powerful women in business never wavered from her core values of philanthropy and community spirit — attributes the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will celebrate at Fall 2022 Convocation by presenting Nancy Southern with an honorary degree.

One of Canada’s most powerful women in business, Nancy Southern has never wavered from her core values of philanthropy and community spirit.

As the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of both ATCO and Canadian Utilities, Southern possesses all the qualities that make for a successful leader — courage, collaboration and humility, a passion for diversity and human rights, and an unwavering desire to create a better future for all constituents.

“Nancy Southern is to be admired for her keen business acumen and her ability to lead some of the world’s most successful companies, all while staying true to her roots as a southern Albertan who honours her family and supports her community,” says ULethbridge Chancellor Charles Weaselhead. “She has long advocated for the rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide and the role of women in business and it is with great respect we are recognizing her with an honorary degree.”

Southern will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at Fall 2022 Convocation, Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 10 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Nancy Southern

Nancy Southern is a southern Albertan through and through. She was born and raised in Calgary, studied economics at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and has established a career that has seen her serve with some of the world’s most influential organizations. She is the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of ATCO Ltd., which was founded by her father, R.D. Southern, in 1947, and Canadian Utilities Limited, an ATCO company. In this position, she is responsible for executing the strategic direction and ongoing operations for both companies and, under her deft leadership, the ATCO group of companies has seen extraordinary growth and demonstrated an enduring commitment to the communities and customers it serves.

Philanthropy and community spirit are core values for Southern. Alongside her business leadership, she has advocated on matters of global importance, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the role of women in business. She is an Honorary Chief of the Kainai (Blood Tribe of Alberta) and was given the name Aksistoowa’paakii, or Brave Woman, in 2012. In 2015, at the request of then-German chancellor Angela Merkel, Southern joined 100 other global leaders for the G7 Forum for Dialogue with Women. As a passionate believer in enterprise as a powerful force for good, she has advised domestic and international governments alike. She honours her family and supports her community, embracing her father’s definition of excellence — ‘going far beyond the call of duty, doing more than others expect.’

The accolades Southern has earned during her career are numerous. In 2012, she received the Peter Lougheed Award for Leadership from Canada’s Public Policy Forum. In 2013, she received the T. Patrick Boyle Founder’s Award for Entrepreneurship from the Fraser Institute. She was named to Fortune Magazine’s list of 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2016 and inducted as a Companion to the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2017.

Mahon earns Kainai Chieftainship

trevor.kenney — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:49:06 +0000

Building on a tradition of understanding, friendship and cooperation, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon was inducted into the Kainai Chieftainship on Saturday, July 21.

President Mike Mahon being introduced before the induction ceremony. Photos by Glenn Miller

Mahon joins a distinguished group of individuals who have been recognized by the members of the Blood Tribe as advocates for the people of the Blood Tribe and for all First Nations' people. There are just 40 living members of the Chieftainship, including former U of L presidents Dr. Howard Tennant (Young Eagle, 1991) and Dr. Bill Cade (Calf Shirt, 2006).

"Being inducted into the Kainai Chieftainship, particularly as one of 40 living members, is a humbling experience," says Mahon, who was welcomed by Chief Charles Weaselhead. "Our university resides on traditional Blackfoot territory and has been given the Blackfoot name Medicine Rock. We have had a longstanding commitment to creating an inclusive university for all First Nations', Metis and Inuit (FNMI) peoples. My own experience this past weekend is a further symbol of this cooperative relationship."

Dr. Mahon has his face painted as part of the ceremony.

Mahon was bestowed the Blackfoot name Iipisowahsi or Morning Star, meaning son of the sun and the moon.

"Blackfoot Elder Dr. Pete Standing Alone gave me my name, saying that the sun is the father and the moon is the mother. Therefore, when they are praying, they often refer to the morning star as their brother," says Mahon. "That is very symbolic and reflects the relationship we want to continue to foster with the Blackfoot people."

Mahon was honoured alongside ATCO president and chief executive officer, Nancy Southern (Brave Woman), and John Jurrius, president and chief executive officer of Native American Resource Partners (Rainy Chief).

President Mahon, left, along with fellow inductees and Chief Charles Weaselhead.

Joining the Chieftainship is a very prestigious honour that symbolizes a partnership between cultures and an acceptance into the Blood Tribe. Past inductees into the Kainai Chieftainship include Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Pope John Paul II, former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, Senator Joyce Fairbairn and former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

The U of L is the first university in Western Canada to establish a Native American Studies department degree program, and Mahon recently commissioned a report to further examine FNMI initiatives across the campus and to develop recommendations on a future strategy. That report is available at www.uleth.ca/president/fnmi

Follow this link for a look at our Facebook photo gallery of the induction ceremony.

UNews - Nancy Southern

Businesswoman, philanthropist, community supporter Nancy Southern to receive honorary degree

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Mahon earns Kainai Chieftainship

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