The Hon. Allan Rock

In July 2008, Allan Rock became the University of Ottawa’s 29th President and Vice-Chancellor since its foundation as Bytown College in 1848. Allan Rock was appointed Ambassador of Canada to the United Nations in December 2003. As the voice of Canadians at the United Nations, Allan Rock was an outspoken advocate of human rights, human security and reforming the UN. At the 2005 World Summit at the UN, he led the successful Canadian effort to secure the adoption by world leaders of the doctrine Responsibility to Protect populations from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Other roles at the UN included chairing a working group on obstacles to long-term development in Haiti, efforts to end the conflict in Northern Uganda and peace negotiations in Abuja, Nigeria involving the Government of Sudan and representatives of the three main rebel groups seeking greater autonomy for Darfur. Allan Rock has received a number of awards including honorary degrees from the Law Society of Upper Canada (1996) and the University of Windsor (1997). He received the Meritas-Tabaret Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Ottawa in 2007 — conferred to graduates who have made a significant contribution in their field and who have contributed to the reputation of the University.