Wpg Sun: Asper receives honorary degree

May 19, 2017 —

Gail Asper received an honorary degree from the Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax on Friday.

“I encourage all of you to say yes when life presents you with interesting opportunities because you will not regret it,” she said explaining that when her father Izzy Asper died suddenly she took up the charge to open the museum he’d started work on.

“Be a lifter not a leaner. Lend a hand and strengthen a person or an organization. By helping them, you get stronger too. Whatever you do, adopt a reach for the stars attitude. Don’t settle for mediocrity.”

A member of the Order of Manitoba and Officer of the Order of Canada, Asper also holds honorary doctorates from the University of Manitoba, Carleton University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Chair of boards of numerous not-for-profit groups and led annual capital and endowment campaigns including for the Manitoba Theatre Centre and United Way, Asper practiced law in Halifax for a number of years before joining Canwest Global Communications Corp as General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and a Director in 1989.

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