Loyalist President Maureen Piercy has announced that Wilf Wilkinson, Past President of Rotary International, has agreed to serve as Visiting Executive at Loyalist College for the current year. In this capacity, he will be available to make presentations to various programs of study as a guest lecturer, and will provide advice to the College on a wide range of issues including community partnerships and development.
“Mr. Wilkinson’s deep commitment to professionalism, excellence, community, and family is well-known,” she said at the Board of Governors meeting March 11th. “We are delighted to have him join us in this role.”
Mr. Wilkinson is a past president of the province of Ontario public accountants council and a past treasurer of both the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. He is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Quebec, and was elected a Fellow of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants.
After retiring from accountancy, Mr. Wilkinson became the part-time executive director of the Quinte Ballet School of Canada. He has also served as chair of the Trenton Memorial Hospital fundraising committee; founding chair of the Belleville Cheshire Home for physically handicapped adults; chair of The Loyalist College Board of Governors; and president of the district council of the Boy Scouts of Canada. He is an honorary director of The Loyalist College Foundation.
A Rotarian since 1962, Mr. Wilkinson is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Trenton. In 2007-08 he served as president of Rotary International, the first Canadian in 55 years to be chosen to serve in that role. Previously he served Rotary International as Vice-President; Director; Rotary Foundation Trustee; District Governor; International Assembly Chair and Chair of the Rotary International Centennial Convention in Chicago.
Mr. Wilkinson has been recognized for his humanitarian service by the Knights of Columbus, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada and has been honoured by Pope John Paul II with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal for service to his church. He is also the recipient of many Rotary honours, including the Citation for Meritorious Service; the International Service Award for a polio-free world; the Distinguished Service Award, and the Service Above Self Award. In 2007, he was named to the Order of Canada with a citation that read, in part, “Integrity, commitment and service are the hallmarks of Wilfrid Wilkinson’s contributions to his community.”
Media Contact: Dianne Spencer, Executive Director, College Advancement & External Relations, Loyalist College, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2235; e-mail: dspencer@loyalistc.on.ca