Honorary degree citation - Gordon M. MacNabb

By: J.C. Giguère, June 1981

Mr. Chancellor, I have the honour to present to you Gordon MacNabb, engineer and public servant.

Mr. MacNabb is the President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and President of Uranium Canada Limited (UCAN). He was born and educated in Carleton Place, Ontario and received his degree in Civil Engineering in 1954 at Queen's University, Kingston. He was awarded honorary Doctor of Science degrees by Memorial University in 1979 and the University of Windsor in 1980.

He joined the Water Resources Branch of the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources in 1954 where he was engaged in studies of international and federal-provincial water problems, particularly those dealing with hydro-electric possibilities. In 1964 he became the Chairman of the Canadian section, Columbia River Treaty Permanent Engineering Board and still holds that responsibility. In 1966 he transferred with the Water Resources Branch to the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.

In July 1967, Mr. MacNabb was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (energy development) Energy, Mines and Resources, was appointed Senior Assistant Deputy Minister in 1973, and Deputy Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources in April 1975. He was appointed to his current position within NSERC on 1 May 1978.

In this capacity he has been instrumental in the formulation of the five year NSERC development plan for research in engineering and science.

Mr. MacNabb is an honorary vice president of the World Energy Conference, a director of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario.

Mr. Chancellor, it is a privilege to present to you, on behalf of the Senate and by the authority of the Board of Governors, Gordon M. MacNabb, that you may confer on his the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.