BRANDON UNIVERSITY REGISTRARS:
W.L. CLARK (1967-1968)
See MG 3 1.14 (W. Leland Clark fonds) for biographical information on W.L. Clark.
R.J. MCCARTHY (1969-1970)
Ron J. McCarthy was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. He obtained his B.A. from Sir George Williams University, Montreal. From September 1960 to May 1962, he was employed by the Dean of Students Office, Sir George Williams University, as liason between the Evening Students Association and the Dean of Student Affairs Office. The following year, he worked with the Adult Education Department of the Montreal Y.M.C.A. at the International Branch Y. In April 1963, McCarthy commenced his duties as Assistant Registrar at his alma mater. From there he moved on to become the registrar of Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology, a post which he held until assuming the post of Registrar at Brandon University June 1, 1969. McCarthy and his wife Carol had three children. Ronald McCarthy died in Brandon, MB on December 9, 1970.
A.R. BALCHEN - Acting Registrar (1971-1973)
A. Richard Balchen, was born in Pine Falls, Manitoba and he obtained his B.A. (1965) and his Education I deiploma (1966) from Brandon College and his M.Ed. from the University of Alberta in 1968. Prior to accepting the position of Assistant Registrar at Brandon University in 1970, Balchen taught at Salisbury Composite High School in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Balchen was named Acting Registrar in 1971, following the death of Ronald McCarthy.
At the time of his appointment to Brandon University, Balchen was married to Sigrid (nee Birkinshaw) of Brandon, who was also a graduate of Brandon College (B.A. 1966). Together they had two children. At present (January 2006), Richard Balchen and his wife live in Whistler, BC.
C.W. KENNEDY (1973-1987)
Chris Kennedy was born in Watford, Hertfordshire on June 11, 1933. At the beginning of World War II he and his siblings were placed in Catholic orphanages, where he recieved some elementary and secondary education. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1951 for a five year stint as an Airborne Radio Equipment Technician. During his time in the Air Force, Kennedy rose to the rank of Corporal and was posted in Singapore from 1954-1956.
In 1960, Kennedy moved to Canada; he received his Canadian Citizenship in 1967. Kennedy registered as a Mature Student in Grade XI at the Collegiate Division in 1961. After Grade XI graduation he attended the United College University (1962-1967) and graduated with a B.A. degree.
While at the Collegiate Division, Kennedy met his future wife, fellow class mate Charlotte Marie Reimer, whom he married in 1965. The two adopted a daughter, Katharina Alice, in 1967.
On November 1, 1967, Kennedy was appointed Associate Registrar at the new University of Winnipeg Registrar's Office. He stayed in that position until 1973, when he applied for the position of Registrar at Brandon University.
Kennedy served as Registrar at Brandon University from 1973 to 1987. During that time he served as Secretary of the Senate, its standing and various ad hoc committees and sometimes for the Board of Governors. As Registrar he visited high schools, was in charge of Admissions, Student Records, Scholarships, the BU Calendar, Convocation and a number of other minor responsibilities. With the help of Wesley Wong, he was also able to get the BU student record system computerized. While living in Brandon, Kennedy was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Brandon. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Westman Chapter of the Kidney Foundation.
After the death of his wife, Kennedy decided to leave Brandon University for the position of Coordinator of Registrar Services at Athabasc University (1988-1990). In 1990, he returned to Winnipeg where he enrolled at the Canadian Mennonite Bible College, graduating with a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1993. He worked the next few years in the Student Records Office at the University of Winnipeg before retiring at the mandatory age of 65 years.
Since his retirement Kennedy has continued to live in Winnipeg where he has kept busy with a variety of projects, including writing a book of daily devotionals. He is also involved in the life of his church.
D.C. BALES (1988-1989)
Donald C. Bales graduated from the University of Winnipeg. In the fall of 1987, he was appointed Registrar of Brandon University; he had been previously appointed to a three-year term (renewable) as Director of Student Records at Brandon University effective August 1, 1986 and continued in that roll after becoming Registrar.
Prior to coming to Brandon University Bales was a Management Analyst for the British Columbia Ministry of Education. He also had experience with the Federal Government and with the Forest Products Research Labratory located at the University of British Columbia. While in B.C. Bales was also Chairman of the Juan de Fuca Parks and Recreations Commission for a number of years.
Bales left his position at Brandon University after one year to resume his career in the British Columbia civil service. At present (January 2007), Don Bales is the Director of Strategic Management for the B.C. Attorney-General's court services branch.
*Between the departure of Don Bales and Tom Mitchell's tenure as Registrar, there were two Acting Registrar's: Michael Blanar and Gordon Reimer.*
T. S. MITCHELL (1991 - 1996)
Thomas Sydney Mitchell was born on April 23, 1949 in Brandon, Manitoba. He attended Brandon University, graduating with a B.A. in 1970. While an undergraduate Mitchell played for the Brandon University Bobcat hockey team. He was also a member of the Senate Committee on Student Affairs. Mitchell obtained his M.A. from the University of Manitoba in 1973. From 1972-1973, he also completed the Education Certification program at the Faculty of Education, Brandon University.
During the 1970s, he taught high school in Brandon. Mitchell came to the University in 1981 to a position in Student Services. He served as Dean of Student Services from 1983-1989 and in 1991, he was appointed Registrar. Mitchell served in this position until 1996.
From 1996 - August 31, 2011, Mitchell was University Archivist and taught courses in Canadian history under the auspices of the History Department. Throughout his tenure at Brandon University Mitchell was engaged in research and publication of historical work dealing with the history of education, labour and the state.
Mitchell and his wife Bonnie have two children, Jennifer and Drew.
DARCY BOWER (1998 - 2005)
Darcy Bower was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1942. She was adopted at birth by an American couple and spent her early childhood in Jacksonville, Florida before the family settled in Portland, Oregon and its suburbs. Bower attended the University of Oregon from 1960-1963 as a journalism major, then spent some time in New York City, before completing a B.A. in English at Portland State College in 1965. She obtained her M.A. in English at the University of Kansas, in Lawrence in 1968.
Bower taught at the Tuskegee Institute, Alabama from 1968-1970, before moving to south-central Indiana in 1970 as a result of her marriage. In Indiana she worked first for Bartholomew County Welfare and then for Indiana Vocational Technical College.
In 1971, her husband, Arthur Bower, joined the faculty of the School of Music at Brandon University. Although a stay at home mom for much of the period 1971-79, Darcy spent some time working at Children's Aid and Brandon Citizen's Adovocacy, as well as teaching at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1975-76. In 1979, she came to Brandon University as a sessional instructor for 99:090 Communications.
While employed at Brandon University, Bower held many positions, including: instructor (1979-82); Coordinator, Mature Student Centre (1982-92); Coordinator, Bachelor of General Studies Degree program (1987-92); Acting Dean of Student Services (1992); and Dean of Students/University Registrar (1993-2005). Following her term as Dean of Students/University Registrar, she worked as an Academic Advisor, specializing in advising student athletes. Bower retired from Brandon University in 2012.
Darcy Bower and her husband Arthur (Art) Bower have five children.
JANET S. WRIGHT (2005 - July 31, 2008 (first year as Acting))
See RG 6 Brandon University fonds, Series 7 Faculties and Schools, 7.2.1 Dean of Science for biographical information on Janet Wright.
LAWRENCE VANBEEK (August 1, 2008 - October 2010)
VanBeek completed his Bachelor of Theology Degree at Central Pentecostal College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1985 and his M.A. in Theology from Providence Theological Seminary in Winnipeg in 1991. He obtained his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of South Africa, Pretoria in 1997.
From 1985 until 2004, VanBeek taught history, languages and university transfer coruses at various post-secondary institutions in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. From 1991-1997, he served as the Dean of the Native Studies Program at Central Pentecostal College. From 1997-2006, VanBeek was the Executive Director of Enrolment Services at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia. From 2006 until he arrived at Brandon University, he served as President of Rocky Mountain College in Calgary, Alberta.
Notes
Chris Kennedy and Darcy Bower proided their own History/Bio information. History/Bio information for D.C. Bales was taken from Campus News -September/October 1986, and Campus News - October 1987. History/Bio information for Lawrence VanBeek taken from the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of Alumi News.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 5: Office of the Registrar
