Banner Photo: Kathryn Lassaline, President Lahey (left) and children Joseph and Claire (right) (Elizabeth Lahey was unable to attend) | Photo by Kelly Clark
King’s Chancellor Debra Deane Little speaks to guests in King’s Library | Photo by Kelly Clark
On June 25, the King’s extended community gathered in the Library to honour and celebrate the decade of exemplary leadership of retiring President and Vice-Chancellor William Lahey. The room was filled with people from various eras of President Lahey’s career in academia and government including the Honourable Brian Wong, Minister of Advanced Education, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang, Dr. Gordon Sinclair Earle, BA’63, DCL’22, former King’s President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. George Cooper, as well as faculty, alumni, students, staff and, of course, his family including Kathryn Lassaline, two of his three children and two sisters.
Chancellor Debra Deane Little, Board Chair Stephanie McGrath, Dalhousie President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Kim Brooks | Photos by Kelly Clark
The evening began with touching tributes from Chair of the Board of Governors Stephanie McGrath, Dr. Kim Brooks, President and Vice-Chancellor of Dalhousie University and King’s Chancellor Debra Deane Little. “Bill lives by the advice that he’s given to King’s students—do everything full heartedly and be fully engaged,” Chancellor Deane Little said. “It’s clear to everyone who has had the pleasure of knowing him and working with him at King’s, Bill has led this university with a full heart.”
Student Noam Koubi speaks while Amal Al-Noman (rear left) and new alum Jonah Cameron, BA(Hons)’26, (rear right) look on | Photo by Kelly Clark
Students Amal Al-Noman and Noam Koubi, and new alum Jonah Cameron, BA(Hons)’26, also shared moving remarks about the way President Lahey made them feel right at home at King’s.
Photo by Kelly Clark
They presented President Lahey with a handcrafted book filled with photos and more than 100 letters from those who wanted him to know how much they appreciated him.
Portrait Artist Elizabeth R. Whelan (left) and President Lahey (right) pose on either side of Whelan’s portrait of the retiring president | photo by Kelly Clark
Stephanie McGrath then called on artist Elizabeth R. Whelan to step forward and unveil her portrait of President Lahey that will hang at King’s.
Photo by Kelly Clark
Afterwards, President Lahey spoke of his love of King’s, and of the extraordinary support and love of his wife Kathryn Lasselyn and their three children, who “finished growing up at King’s.” He expressed his thanks and gratitude to the community and King’s and spoke about how much his time here has changed him. While thanking all those who have supported him over the years, he saved his greatest appreciation for the students he’s gotten to know. He said he may have been at King’s for only ten years of its history, but he now belongs to King’s forever.
(left) Close up of beaded medallion by Regional Chief, Nova Scotia Andrea Paul (right) Dr. Ann Sylliboy and President Lahey | Photo by Kelly Clark
Rounding out the evening Dr. Ann Sylliboy, DCL’26, alongside Board Member Catherine Martin, commended President Lahey for King’s commitment to the Indigenous and especially Mi’kmaq community, saying, “very few listen as much as Bill and King’s do.” Dr. Sylliboy then presented him with a medallion beaded by Regional Chief, Nova Scotia Andrea Paul of Pictou Landing First Nation that reads “We are all learning together.”
