Dowie steps into Public Affairs post

Vaughan Dowie / Photo: Owen Egan
Vaughan Dowie / Photo: Owen Egan

Oversees communications, government relations

Vaughan Dowie, who has served as Interim Vice-Principal (Public Affairs) since former V-P Michael Goldbloom left in the summer to take up duties as Principal of Bishop’s University, will continue to oversee the university’s communications and government relations apparatus.

Dowie, 58, was named Executive Head of Public Affairs this week by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum.

“Given the strengthening of our Public Affairs team and several of the executive portfolios over recent months in the areas of government relations and communications,” Prof. Munroe-Blum said, “and considering the financial circumstances we are confronting, I have decided to eliminate the position of Vice-Principal (Public Affairs) and reorganize the related functions, assigning those in a co-ordinated way to the Office of Public Affairs and to key team members in other portfolios.”

Dowie has more than 30 years of experience as a senior manager in the public sector, including serving as Assistant Deputy Minister to three different departments in the British Columbia government. He has also served as President of Quebec’s Commission de Protection des Droits de la Jeunesse and as the Executive Director of Batshaw Youth and Family Centres.

A native of Montreal, Dowie attended both Sir George Williams University and McGill.

The Media Relations Office and Communications Services Department will continue to report to him.