Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to inform you that TRU has engaged Global Philanthropic Canada to provide leadership and services in support of the university’s advancement activities on an interim basis. Under the leadership of President and CEO Guy Mallabone, the Calgary-based consulting firm will be hands-on with a presence on campus three days a week starting Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

The selection of Guy Mallabone and his team was made following a competitive Request for Proposals process and recognizes Guy’s and his colleagues’ extensive experience in the fund development sector. This includes Guy’s senior positions with the Canadian Red Cross Society (Alberta-NWT Division) and with post-secondary institutions. Guy was the Director of Development at the University of Alberta from 1995-1999 and in that time, led that university’s largest capital campaign which raised more than $190 million. In 1999, he joined the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) as Vice-President of External Relations and Chief Development Officer, and developed SAIT’s highly successful “Invest in Technology” fundraising campaign which surpassed its $80 million goal. Guy left SAIT in 2010 to start Global Philanthropic Canada, a company with offices across Canada that is committed to supporting non-profit organizations to meet their development goals. I look forward to working closely with Guy as interim VP Advancement to raise funds for student support, research and facilities.

As I indicated to the TRU community last November, the importance of the close relationship between the President and the VP Advancement in achieving the university’s goals in fundraising led me to fill the VP Advancement role on an interim basis. Because my term ends at the end of August, the contract with Guy goes until June 2019 to give my successor plenty of time to determine how to continue the VP Advancement position.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Karen Gamracy, Director of Advancement, for providing leadership to the Advancement Office since last fall, with the passing of our former VP Advancement Christopher Seguin. Karen has supported the Advancement team through several initiatives including the annual and successful TRU Foundation Gala in February. Karen and I shared in the RFP selection process for the interim VP Advancement. I also thank and commend all of our colleagues in Advancement for their enthusiastic and total commitment to continued excellence in fundraising.

I look forward to the months ahead with Guy, as our teams settle in together to meet our goals in support of students, staff and faculty.

Sincerely,

Alan Shaver
President and Vice-Chancellor