Premier Williams Acknowledges Enormous Contribution of the Late Dr. Leslie Harris

The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today acknowledged the enormous contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador of Dr. Leslie Harris, who passed away earlier today.

Dr. Harris was an internationally respected historian who studied and served at Memorial University, the University of London (England) and colleges in the United States.  At Memorial, he served successively as an assistant professor, head of the history department, dean of arts and science, vice-president (academic), pro-vice-chancellor, vice-chancellor and president.

�I had enormous respect for Dr. Harris," said Premier Williams. "He was the dean of arts and science during the time that I attended Memorial University, and he was admired and appreciated by all who dealt with him.  He was especially appreciated for the extensive time he devoted to patiently mentoring students � clearly something he loved to do.  He shaped many a life in this province, and Newfoundland and Labrador is stronger because of the outstanding work he did, both at our university and in the community at large.�

Dr. Harris applied his extensive talents and knowledge to the service of his country and his province as a member and chair of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, head of the Review Panel on the Northern Cod Stocks, chair of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Complaints Commission, chair of the Environmental Review for the Terra Nova (Offshore Oil) Project, and chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Fair.  In recognition of his exceptional contribution, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

It was in his honour that the Memorial University Board of Regents in 2004 approved the establishment of the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development (The Harris Centre), which is continuing the contribution to regional policy and development in Newfoundland and Labrador that Dr. Harris demonstrated in his own work.

�Dr. Harris will always be remembered in this province as one of the great presidents of our university, and we sincerely look forward to seeing an individual of his calibre lead Memorial in the future,� added the Premier.  �On behalf of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, I express our deepest sympathies to the Harris family."

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2008 08 26                                                        9:30 p.m.