It is with deep sadness that we learned of the recent passing of our Chancellor Emeritus Lindsay Gordon BA’73, MBA’76, LLD’23. On behalf of UBC, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Liz, and their children and family. Liz and Lindsay recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary – a love story that started when they met as undergraduate students at UBC.
A tireless champion and supporter of UBC, Lindsay served as the University Chancellor from 2014 to 2020 and in this capacity was an active participant of the UBC Board of Governors, UBC Senates, and the alumni UBC Board of Directors. As Co-Chair of UBC’s start an evolution campaign and most recently as a member of the volunteer leadership circle of FORWARD, the campaign for UBC, Lindsay advocated for those who had experienced barriers to education and access to healthcare. Together with his wife Liz, he provided foundational gifts for the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health and established Centennial Indigenous Scholars’ Awards at UBC.
Lindsay was a champion for UBC’s Okanagan campus and its transformational growth, a relentless supporter of the student experience, and a strong advocate for UBC’s Indigenous Strategic plan and its commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Last year, Lindsay was awarded an honorary degree at UBC’s Okanagan campus and also received an Alumni UBC Volunteer Leadership Award.
An experienced business and community leader, Lindsay enjoyed an accomplished career at Export Development Canada and then HSBC Bank Canada, where he served as CEO for a decade until his retirement in 2013. During his tenure at HSBC, the bank became a philanthropic leader by increasing access to education through scholarships and supporting the environment and community causes.
Lindsay’s vast contributions extended into the broader community as a dedicated volunteer with the United Way in both Toronto and Vancouver, numerous professional and civic boards as well as being a co-founder of CH.I.L.D. (Children with Intestinal and Liver Disorders Foundation), which was created in 1995 for the purpose of raising funds for research to find a cure for pediatric Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and liver disorders. In 2010, he was the recipient of the B’nai Brith Award of Merit for Outstanding Canadians and a recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
On a personal note, I am grateful that I had the chance to meet Lindsay and benefit from his insights and advice as he was one of the very first to welcome me to UBC. He was a remarkable person and he will be deeply missed.
Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President and Vice-Chancellor