Press Releases

Three UNA-Canada supporters receive Order of Canada appointments

OTTAWA – The United Nations Association in Canada extends its warmest congratulations to three long-time supporters of the organization who were announced for Order of Canada appointments on Tuesday, January 15th.

Michael Oliver, past National President of the Association, has been appointed as an officer of the Order. Newton R Bowles, UNA-Canada’s current representative in New York, and Alice Cheatley, a key board member of UNA-Canada’s Winnipeg Branch, were both appointed as Members.

Michael Oliver, O.C.

Michael Oliver has had a long and distinguished career in the fields of education, organizational management and social and political activism. Born in 1925 in North Bay, he pursued a B.A. and M.A. at McGill and his Ph.D at the Institut d’Études Politiques in Paris. His career in education included appointments as Professor in Political Science and Vice-President (Academic) at McGill University and as President and Vice-Chancellor at Carleton University, and visiting fellowships or professorships in Sussex, Papua New Guinea, Australia and at Bishop’s University. Outside of the formal academic community he has served in a wide variety or capacities, including as Founding Federal President of the New Democratic Party, Director of Research for the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, Chairman of a Task-Force on Post-Secondary Education in Manitoba, Founding Director of the International Development Office of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and member of the National Papua New Guinea Commission on Higher Education.

Mr. Oliver has actively involved in a number of non-governmental organizations including stints as President of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), President of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), President of the International Council on Social Welfare Canada, Chair of the Group of 78 and National President of the United Nations Association in Canada (1993-1996)

Newton Bowles, C.M.

Newton Bowles, born in China, comes from a Canadian family distinguished in public service. After graduating from the University of Toronto, he was President’s Fellow at Johns Hopkins University. He joined the United Nations post-war UNRRA in 1945, serving in China in 1946-48, in charge of humanitarian aid during the civil war. Joining UNICEF in 1948, he became director of worldwide programmes (1965-78); and, latterly, senior policy advisor. Since his retirement, he continues as pro bono advisor on UNICEF’s emergency operations, is a Board Member of the UN NGO Disarmament Committee and is the UN Representative of the United Nations Association in Canada. For nine years he has prepared annual comprehensive reports on the UN General Assembly. In 2001, he produced a perceptive account of the UN in the last decade of the 20th century (The Diplomacy of Hope).

Newton Bowles is also an accomplished artist whose paintings are collected in several North American museums.

Alice Cheatley, C.M.

Alice Cheatley was born in Fisherton, Manitoba, completed her B.A., B.Ed., and M.Ed. at the University of Manitoba, and her Ph.D at the University of North Dakota. She taught first in rural Manitoba before moving to the Winnipeg School Division, where she taught junior and senior high school and became an administrator. During her career she was active with the Winnipeg Teachers’ Association and the Manitoba Teachers’ Society, serving as President of both. She was a founding member of the Manitoba Education Research Council.

With energy and determination she played a leading role in many fields and organizations, serving on committees and holding many positions. Organizations which have benefited from her commitment include the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, the National Library Advisory Board (of which she is a Life Member), the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Liberal Party, the University of Manitoba Alumni Association, the University Women’s Club and the Winnipeg Branch of the United Nations Association in Canada.

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For more information, please contact Joan Broughton, Public Information Officer by telephone at (613) 232-5751 x230 or by e-mail at info@unac.org.