New Dalhousie chancellor appointed

Fred Fountain (Nick Pearce Photo)

Fred Fountain is next to don the black robes and velvet tasseled cap as Dalhousie’s sixth chancellor.

“I feel strongly that Nova Scotia needs the best possible university we can create,” says Mr. Fountain. “And I’m happy to be a part of that.”

Succeeding Richard Goldbloom as chancellor, Mr. Fountain will act as the ambassador of Dalhousie University and will preside at convocation and other official ceremonies. He will also sit as an ex-officio member on the Board of Governors.

He will be formally installed in the position during convocation on May 20.

Mr. Fountain, 59, is a founding partner of the law firm, formerly Franklin, Mitton, Fountain and Thompson. A 1974 graduate of Dalhousie Law School and a member of Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society since 1975, he is currently counsel to the law firm Burke, Thompson. Since 1985, he has been the president and chief executive officer of The Great Eastern Corporation, an investment management company based in Halifax.

He is a dedicated volunteer. From 2003 to 2007, he chaired the capital campaign, Working Miracles, which raised $44 million for the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre Foundation. He has served on the boards of several arts institutions, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the National Arts Centre Foundation and the Scotia Festival of Music.

His association with Dalhousie has been long and distinguished. He sat on the Board of Governors at Dalhousie from 1990 to 1999, during which time he chaired the Development committee and the Dalhousie Foundation, and served on Finance and Budget and Investment committees.  Mr. Fountain, who received an honorary degree from Dalhousie in 2000, continues to serve as the chair of the advisory board to Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management and as a director of Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation. Mr. Fountain received the Dalhousie University Community Award in 1998 and was Dalhousie University Alumnus of the Year in 1997, in addition to many other honours.

The residence Fountain House opened in 2002.

The residence wing, Fountain House, is named in appreciation of Fred and Elizabeth Fountain’s generous support of Dalhousie. The $7.5-million addition to Howe Hall opened in 2002.

“During my experience with Dalhousie, the university has made great progress,” says Mr. Fountain. “If I can help be a goodwill spokesperson and a proponent of the university, I’m only too willing.”

Mr. Fountain’s family also has a strong connection to Dalhousie. His parents, philanthropists Sheldon and Marjorie Fountain, received honorary degrees from Dalhousie in 2005. They established the F.C. Manning Chair in Economics and Business in memory of Marjorie’s father in 1960. In 1999, the Fountains established the Marjorie Manning Fountain Endowment Fund in the Faculty of Management.

A native of Truro, N.S., Mr. Fountain currently resides in Head of St. Margaret’s Bay. He is married to Elizabeth (nee Brown) Fountain. The couple has two children, Alexander and Katharine.

Other former chancellors at Dalhousie are C.D. Howe, Lady Beaverbrook, Reuben Cohen, Graham Day and Dr. Goldbloom. 

“I would like to say that Dr. Goldbloom is an inspiration to me in his representation of this university. Both Dr. Goldbloom and Graham Day have been very strong here at Dalhousie and I’m honoured to follow in their footsteps.”