Former Acadia president appointed to the Senate

BY JENNIFER HOEGG

jhoegg@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Prime Minister Stephen Harper named scientist and former president of Acadia University Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie to the Senate of Canada Aug. 27. One of nine new appointees, Ogilvie will be the newest senator representing Nova Scotia.

Speaking to The Kings County Advertiser the day after the announcement, Ogilvie said, “I feel very good. It has been quite an exciting period of time and it is just an exceptional feeling of recognition.”

Ogilvie said the position recognizes the importance of science and post-secondary education for Stephen Harper’s government. “I bring a very strong background in science and technology,” he said, adding, it is good “for someone to be able to articulate these issues in political Ottawa.”

Ogilvie is currently the Senior Fellow for Post-secondary Education at the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies and chairs the Advisory Board of the National Research Council’s Institute of Marine Bioscience and the Advisory Board of the Atlantic Innovation Fund.

Knew it was coming

In addition to serving as President and Vice-Chancellor of Acadia from 1993 to 2004, Ogilvie is an award-winning international expert in biotechnology, bio-organic chemistry and genetic engineering. He was recently chair of the Nova Scotia Premier’s Council for Innovation.

Ogilvie will be designated the Senator from Annapolis Valley-Hants.

The retired Acadia professor knew the announcement was coming after a conversation with Prime Minister Harper last week. “I was asked to (keep it a secret) and given my character, I did so,” Ogilvie said. “But it was a stressful week. We couldn’t even tell our children. In an appointment such as mine the element of surprise is important.”

Now that the appointment is official, he has quite a bit to deal with, the Bennett’s Bay resident said. “Swearing in will occur just prior to the official opening of the Senate Sept. 14, either on the 14th or a day or two before that.”

Ten senators represent Nova Scotia. The Aug. 27 appointments bring the number of Conservative senators to 46. There are 53 Liberals and six independent and Progressive Conservatives among the 105-seat Senate.