Stephen Toope
Encyclopedia
Stephen J. Toope, is the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia
. He assumed the presidential post on July 1, 2006 for a term of five years. He was formerly the president of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
.
A scholar specializing in human rights
, public international law and international relations
, Toope is the 12th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia
, succeeding Martha Piper
, after 9 years of service. He also holds an academic position at the university as a tenured professor of law.
in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in English Literature
and European History. Then, he received two law degrees from McGill University
in 1983. Finally, in 1987, he finished his PhD at Cambridge University, subsequently joining McGill's faculty.
, named in honour of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The Foundation focuses on identifying outstanding talent in the social sciences and humanities, thereby building a network to promote public debate on issues of societal importance. The Foundation awards five fellowships and 15 doctoral candidate scholarships annually to recognize outstanding achievement in the humanities and social sciences that exemplify innovative public policy approaches and a commitment to public engagement. Established in 2002, the foundation manages an endowment of more than C$140 million.
Earlier, Toope served as dean of McGill University Faculty of Law
from 1994 to 1999. He is the youngest person to have held the position. During his tenure as dean, he led the then-largest capital campaign in Canadian law faculty history to build a new Law library, and oversaw the renewal of the faculty’s curriculum.
Toope has consulted extensively to the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and to the Canadian International Development Agency
. He has won publishing awards from the American Society of International Law and the Canadian Tax Foundation
.
He has conducted human rights seminars for government officials in Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, and was a member of the UN
observer delegation to the first post-apartheid South Africa
n elections. He has also served as Research Director, Office of the Special Representative concerning the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People in 1991.
His service to the community includes serving on the boards of non-governmental organizations that promote human rights and international development, including the Canadian Human Rights Foundation, the World University Service of Canada and the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
As the President of UBC, Toope received salary and benefits of $578,936.79 in 2007, making him the highest paid public-sector employee in British Columbia
.
students on campus will also receive more attention, with a focus on student integration and transition into university life, as well as on trying to engage First Nations students with lower levels of education.
Toope has said he will not focus on the expansion of the university beyond UBC Okanagan.
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. He assumed the presidential post on July 1, 2006 for a term of five years. He was formerly the president of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Founded in 2001, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an independent and non-partisan Canadian charity established as a living memorial to the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau by his family, friends, and colleagues...
.
A scholar specializing in human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, public international law and international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
, Toope is the 12th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, succeeding Martha Piper
Martha Piper
Martha C. Piper, OC, OBC was the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. She held the position from 1997 until 2006, and was the 11th person and the first woman to do so...
, after 9 years of service. He also holds an academic position at the university as a tenured professor of law.
Education
Toope graduated from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
and European History. Then, he received two law degrees from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1983. Finally, in 1987, he finished his PhD at Cambridge University, subsequently joining McGill's faculty.
Career
Toope served, until recently, as head of an independent, private, and non-partisan Canadian educational foundation, the Trudeau FoundationPierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Founded in 2001, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an independent and non-partisan Canadian charity established as a living memorial to the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau by his family, friends, and colleagues...
, named in honour of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The Foundation focuses on identifying outstanding talent in the social sciences and humanities, thereby building a network to promote public debate on issues of societal importance. The Foundation awards five fellowships and 15 doctoral candidate scholarships annually to recognize outstanding achievement in the humanities and social sciences that exemplify innovative public policy approaches and a commitment to public engagement. Established in 2002, the foundation manages an endowment of more than C$140 million.
Earlier, Toope served as dean of McGill University Faculty of Law
McGill University Faculty of Law
The Faculty of Law is a constituent faculty of McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec. Its graduates obtain both a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Civil Law , concurrently, in three to four years, allowing them to practice in both the Canadian, U.S...
from 1994 to 1999. He is the youngest person to have held the position. During his tenure as dean, he led the then-largest capital campaign in Canadian law faculty history to build a new Law library, and oversaw the renewal of the faculty’s curriculum.
Toope has consulted extensively to the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and to the Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
. He has won publishing awards from the American Society of International Law and the Canadian Tax Foundation
Canadian Tax Foundation
The Canadian Tax Foundation is an independent tax research non-profit organization with over 7,700 individual and corporate members in Canada and abroad...
.
He has conducted human rights seminars for government officials in Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, and was a member of the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
observer delegation to the first post-apartheid South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n elections. He has also served as Research Director, Office of the Special Representative concerning the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People in 1991.
His service to the community includes serving on the boards of non-governmental organizations that promote human rights and international development, including the Canadian Human Rights Foundation, the World University Service of Canada and the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
As the President of UBC, Toope received salary and benefits of $578,936.79 in 2007, making him the highest paid public-sector employee in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
University pledges
As UBC president, Toope says he hopes to work on prioritizing student learning. In particular, he wishes to create more opportunities for students to work with high-profile researchers. Issues affecting First NationsFirst Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
students on campus will also receive more attention, with a focus on student integration and transition into university life, as well as on trying to engage First Nations students with lower levels of education.
Toope has said he will not focus on the expansion of the university beyond UBC Okanagan.