Vianne Timmons
Vianne Timmons,
Professional life
She was president and vice-chancellor of the University of Regina,[4] a public university in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, from 2008 to 2019. In 2013, university faculty expressed concerns that non-academic jobs and costs had risen at the expense of academic priorities since her appointment.[5]
Timmons is a researcher, author, and lecturer in the area of educational inclusion.
In 2018, Timmons was appointed to the independent advisory board for Senate appointments;[8] official documents naming Timmons as a Saskatchewan representative to the board stated she was a member of the Bras d’Or Mi’kmaq First Nation.[9]
In March 2019, she was appointed as a board member of
Timmons became president and vice chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland on April 1, 2020.[3] She was removed from that post by the university's board of regents on April 6, 2023.[11] A public report made by the Auditor General following her leave from office noted "expenses considered to be excessive," including $1,792 paid for custom-made chocolates.[12]
False claims of indigeneity
Timmons was a recipient of the 2019 Indspire Award, and was described as one of "Twelve Indigenous people honoured for their extraordinary work across Canada."[13]
In 2019 Timmons told media "I wasn't raised in the Mi'kmaq culture but my great, great grandmother was a Mi'kmaq woman from Conne River.... So I am of Mi'kmaq heritage."[14] In 2021 she told media "I’m of Mi’kmaq ancestry."[15] A March 8, 2023 CBC investigation was published with evidence that she is not Indigenous, and that she has claimed to be Indigenous in the past.[16] Timmons released a statement acknowledging that she is not Indigenous.[17] On March 13, Timmons went on a 6-week paid leave while Memorial University began a consultation process with the Indigenous community to discuss the issue.[8][18] Following this announcement, an Indigenous faculty member stated they had raised concerns about claims to Indigeneity and Memorial's response to identity verification the previous year.[19]
References
- ^ "Organization Profile - VIA Rail Canada Inc".
- ^ "Biography of Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and Vice-Chancellor | Office of the President, University of Regina". www.uregina.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ a b "Returning To Her Roots". MUN Gazette. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ "Biography of Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and Vice-Chancellor | Office of the President, University of Regina". www.uregina.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ Bradshaw, James (27 September 2013). "University of Regina's leadership is narrowly affirmed". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "WXN Award Winners | Women Executives | Executive". Financial Post. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ "Vianne Timmons: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ a b Kelland, Ariana (March 13, 2023). "MUN president Vianne Timmons apologizes, takes temporary leave, as Mi'kmaw claims scrutinized". CBC News. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ Hopper, Tristan (15 March 2023). "Memorial University president steps aside in latest 'pretendian' Indigenous controversy". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Organization Profile - VIA Rail Canada Inc".
- ^ Contributed. "VIANNE TIMMONS: 'These have been very difficult weeks' — former Memorial University president speaks out about firing | SaltWire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ^ Sheppard, Noah. "Chocolates, Limos and Oil Changes; AG Report Scrutinizes Former MUN President's Spending". VOCM. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
- ^ Bell, Kiley. "Meet the winners of the 2019 Indspire Awards: Twelve Indigenous people honoured for their extraordinary work across Canada". Canadian Geographic. pp. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Coming home: Vianne Timmons named as new MUN president". CBC News. 12 Dec 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Baxter-Smith, Charlotte (7 March 2021). "Reflections on Dr. Timmons' First Year". The Muse. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Walking the Line". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ "Indigenous identity is complex". www.gazette.mun.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ Bowden, Olivia (15 March 2023). "Canada: university president to take leave amid controversy over Indigenous ancestry claim". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ Kelland, Ariana (16 March 2023). "Inuk professor says he raised identity concerns with MUN months ago". CBC News. Retrieved 18 March 2023.