Ian MacPherson, historian of UVic

May 6, 2014

Historian of the university and Honorary Degree Recipient

The university lost one of its shining lights in November with the passing of historian Dr. Ian MacPherson. In addition to his scholarly contributions—which were exemplary—MacPherson was a leading administrator and great friend to the university who had recently authored a book-length history of UVic. Moreover, MacPherson stood out as a champion in his field, becoming avant le lettre the type of figure who we now recognize and praise as a community-engaged academic.

MacPherson’s work with co-operatives went far beyond the academic expectations of his era, and his extraordinary contribution to the betterment of society working with the co-operative movement drew UVic to award him an honorary degree—a decision made shortly before his unexpected death.

MacPherson was born and grew up on a farm in Spencerville, Ontario—the youngest of four boys—and taught school in a small community outside of Toronto before pursuing his MA and PhD in history at Western Ontario. He lectured in history at the University of Winnipeg and the University of London, England, before taking up a position at UVic in 1976.

MacPherson’s earliest historical interests revolved around rural history, particularly on the prairies, and his focus from the beginning was on co-operatives, which drew him to an interest in the co-operative movement in English Canada. That spark would burn throughout his long career, as the subject of his first book to the focus of the research centre he founded. MacPherson rapidly became the pre-eminent historian of the Canadian co-operative movement, and also made many scholarly contributions to the study of co-operatives at the international level.

As an administrative leader, MacPherson’s impact was also commendable. He served as chair of the history department, and as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The expansion of the university led him to later assume duties as Dean of Humanities, a position from which he stepped down in order to found UVic’s Centre for Co-operative and Community-Based Economy (then called the BC Institute for Co-operative Studies).

MacPherson’s tenure as a department chair and dean is remembered fondly by many junior faculty of that era, for his ability to empathize with their concerns and find ways within the administrative structure to develop solutions that could work for them. He was a compassionate, wise and humane leader. He was also known for his sense of humour, which could leaven tense situations. His fondness for practical jokes kept the august scholars of the history department from taking themselves too seriously. In word and deed, he has left a legacy of stories that are still told and retold to new generations.

Under MacPherson’s leadership, the CCCBE (then BCICS) became a prime source of scholarly material as well as a resource for practitioners in co-operative undertakings. MacPherson was very active in the co-op movement both in Canada and internationally, took a leading role in creating the Canadian Co-operative Association, was the co-founder of the Canadian Association for the Study of Co-operation, and served as chair of the International Co-operative Alliance committee that articulated key co-operative principles in 1995.

MacPherson’s commitment to community engagement took many faces. In 2010, MacPherson was honoured as one of eight volunteers who had been active as part of the UVic Speakers Bureau since its inception in 1980, sharing knowledge and deepening the connection between the university and the community continuously for 30 years.

The 2012 publication of his book-length history of UVic, Reaching Outward and Upward, was a well-appreciated addition to the university’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The work is a grand story of the many communities—on-campus, off-campus, local, national, international, physical and electronic—that have together shaped the university.

MacPherson is widely and fondly remembered across campus as a kind and compassionate man, an exceptional teacher and mentor, a wise leader, a distinguished scholar and a model of a community-engaged academic.

MacPherson has left us a vital legacy in his writings, in the continuing work of the research centre he founded, in the internationally recognized principles of co-operative activism he helped to pen, and in the countless people he inspired.

He will be much missed.

In recognition of this multitude of contributions, MacPherson’s Honorary Doctorate will be awarded on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. as part of a special service of remembrance at the University Club. The UVic flag will also be lowered in his memory on that day.

In lieu of flowers please consider any of the following: