Prominent Vancouver lawyer Mitchell Gropper, QC, has been installed as University Canada West’s Chancellor.
He took the pledge and was invested with the robes of office during the recent convocation ceremony on July 14, 2017. The oath was administered by Catherine Vertesi, Vice-Chair of UCW’s Board of Governors.
“It’s a great honor for me to have been appointed Chancellor of University Canada West,” he said as part of his Chancellor’s address.
The chancellor is one of the chief ambassadors for the University.
“Each of UCW’s graduates today are going to have to adapt and change,” Gropper told the crowd, adding most will retire in jobs that don’t exist today.
He shared some words of advice for the graduating class of 2017.
“You have learned a lot in your studies at UCW and most importantly, you have learned how to learn,” he said.
“Seek out challenge, remain curious and look for the opportunity that is inherent in change.”
Gropper is a senior partner at the law firm of Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy in Vancouver, as well as a dedicated community volunteer and supporter of higher education.
He was a professor in the Faculty of Law at Western University in London, Ontario and is actively involved with the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia.
Gropper is involved with a number of professional organizations. He was an organizing member of the Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships, a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Tax Foundation, and the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of British Columbia.
Gropper is also heavily involved in the community. He is current Past Chair of Board of the Federation of Jewish Community of Greater Vancouver and, until recently, was a Director of the Arts Club Theatre and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Jewish Foundation of Greater Vancouver.
Gropper will continue as the interim chair of the UCW Board of Governors in addition to accepting this new role.
WRITTEN BY BRADLEY FEHR
