The Queen’s community is remembering Murray Sinclair, Chancellor Emeritus and Special Advisor to the Principal on Reconciliation, who passed away on Monday, Nov. 4 in Winnipeg following a period of illness. He was 73.
His Honour served as Queen’s 15th Chancellor from 2021-2024 and was the first Indigenous person to serve in the role. He brought many years of leadership experience in governance and law, most notably through his service as a justice to the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba, his role as Chief Commissioner of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and as a Senator in the Senate of Canada. In recent years he served as General Counsel with Cochrane Saxberg LLP, Manitoba’s largest Indigenous law firm. He has received honorary doctorates from 14 universities, including Queen’s in 2019.
As one of Canada’s most significant advocates for Indigenous people, his unwavering commitment to the principles of equity and inclusion transformed the country’s political landscape for the better. Similarly, while at Queen’s, his expertise and care significantly contributed to the university’s ongoing evolution as an institution.
He played a pivotal role in advancing truth and reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenization on campus. For example, His Honour helped facilitate critical advances on reviewing university practices, policies, and procedures, and he lent his keen and thoughtful wisdom to priority initiatives such as the university’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation activities.
“Queen’s was uniquely honoured when Chancellor Sinclair agreed to take on the position, and we have benefited enormously from his wisdom and commitment. He understood the key role institutions like ours can and must play in the process of reconciliation,” says Principal Deane. “We will miss him for that, as well as for his wonderful personal warmth and good humour. He was a great man, fiercely principled yet profoundly humane.”
After His Honour opted not to seek reappointment for a second term as Queen’s Chancellor, he instead transitioned to Special Advisor to the Principal on Reconciliation. Award-winning broadcast journalist Shelagh Rogers was chosen to succeed Sinclair and began her term in July 2024. She is his cousin and close friend.
“We have lost a visionary leader who acted out of wisdom, his deep humanity and love. Chancellor Emeritus Sinclair gave us the opportunity to learn the truth, and as importantly, to unlearn the foundational myths at the heart of the history of Canada,” says Chancellor Rogers. “He calls us still to change the world and to make it better for each new generation, aligning with the raison d’être of our university. The best way to honour him is to continue his essential work.”
A sacred fire has been lit in his honour on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building and in lieu of flowers, the family is asking those who are able to donate to The Murray Sinclair Memorial Fund at The Winnipeg Foundation.
This story originally appeared in the Queen's Gazette.
