On March 12 the Board of Regents hosted an event in honour of Memorial’s outgoing president, Dr. Gary Kachanoski.

Dr. Kachanoski finishes his second five-year term as president and vice-chancellor on March 31, 2020.

At Signal Hill Campus, a formal portrait of Dr. Kachanoski was unveiled that will hang with portraits of previous presidents and chancellors in the Main Dining Hall on the St. John’s campus.

As a memento, board chair Iris Petten presented Dr. Kachanoski with a set of hand-crafted custom Newfoundland wet flies for salmon fishing. She also spoke about his legacy.

‘Right president at the right time’

“On behalf of the Board of Regents, I want to thank Dr. Kachanoski for his leadership, expertise, creativity and tenacity in his role as Memorial University’s 12th president and vice-chancellor,” she said.

“I believe that Gary was the right president at the right time for Memorial University – particularly when we started to face severe budget constraints. His financial management expertise is incredible and was invaluable to me and the board. The university is in a better place because of it.”

Ms. Petten continued to say that a review of the president’s first term indicated that Dr. Kachanoski was held in very high regard.

“People noted his strong strategic outlook and vision; his high degree of passion, drive and competitiveness; and his energy and ability to represent Memorial in the community, among other things,” she said. “We have worked closely together for many years and I very much value his expertise and experience.”

She concluded, “I wish him all the best as he and his wife Teresa begin a new chapter in their lives – hopefully one that will include many successful fishing expeditions!”

To read a goodbye message from Dr. Kachanoski, please visit here.