Arthur Kroeger
Encyclopedia
Arthur Kroeger, was a Canadian
academic and civil servant, who is referred to as the "dean of deputy ministers".
Born on a farm in Naco, Alberta (now a ghost town
), Kroeger was descended from Mennonite
s who emigrated from Russia
. He received a BA
in 1955 from the University of Alberta
and was a Rhodes Scholar. In 1958, he joined the Department of External Affairs and served in Geneva
, New Delhi
, Washington
, and Ottawa
. He was deputy minister of the following ministries: Indian and Northern Affairs (1975–1977); Transport Canada (1979–1983); Regional Industrial Expansion (1985–1986); Energy, Mines and Resources (1986–1988); and Employment and Immigration Canada (1988–1992). He retired from public service in 1992.
From 1993 to 1994, he was a visiting professor at the University of Toronto
. From 1993 to 1999, he was a visiting fellow at Queen's University
.
From 1993 to 2002, he was Chancellor of Carleton University
. Carleton also named the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs
, the school for the university's undergraduate Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management programme, in Kroeger's honour.
In 1989 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
and was promoted to Companion in 2000.
He is the author of Hard Passage (University of Alberta Press, ISBN 0-88864-473-6), a non-fiction exploration of his Mennonite
family's history, spanning three generations in Russian Ukraine
, the Soviet Union
, and finally in Canada
.
In 1966, he married Gay (Gabrielle) Sellers, a fellow Canadian who he met in England; they had two daughters. She died in 1979. Kroeger's second spouse was Huguette Labelle
.
On May 9, 2008, Kroeger died at the Élisabeth Bruyère Health Centre in Ottawa
with his family by his side.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
academic and civil servant, who is referred to as the "dean of deputy ministers".
Born on a farm in Naco, Alberta (now a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
), Kroeger was descended from Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
s who emigrated from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. He received a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1955 from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
and was a Rhodes Scholar. In 1958, he joined the Department of External Affairs and served in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. He was deputy minister of the following ministries: Indian and Northern Affairs (1975–1977); Transport Canada (1979–1983); Regional Industrial Expansion (1985–1986); Energy, Mines and Resources (1986–1988); and Employment and Immigration Canada (1988–1992). He retired from public service in 1992.
From 1993 to 1994, he was a visiting professor at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. From 1993 to 1999, he was a visiting fellow at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
.
From 1993 to 2002, he was Chancellor of Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
. Carleton also named the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs
Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs
The Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs is an institute within the Faculty of Public Affairs at Carleton University. It offers the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management , a specialized four-year honours degree dedicated to the study of public policy within an interdisciplinary...
, the school for the university's undergraduate Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management programme, in Kroeger's honour.
In 1989 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was promoted to Companion in 2000.
He is the author of Hard Passage (University of Alberta Press, ISBN 0-88864-473-6), a non-fiction exploration of his Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
family's history, spanning three generations in Russian Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and finally in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In 1966, he married Gay (Gabrielle) Sellers, a fellow Canadian who he met in England; they had two daughters. She died in 1979. Kroeger's second spouse was Huguette Labelle
Huguette Labelle
Huguette Labelle, CC is a retired Canadian civil servant and the Chancellor of the University of Ottawa.Born in Rockland, Ontario, she received a Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy in education from the University of Ottawa....
.
On May 9, 2008, Kroeger died at the Élisabeth Bruyère Health Centre in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
with his family by his side.