±«Óãtv

May 2011 Honorary Degree Recipient

Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)

As both a lawyer and an investor, William Rand has been a catalyst supporting the emerging success of entrepreneurs and businesspeople across Canada and around the world. In doing so, he has built his own successful career, one marked by dedication, skill and ingenuity. But the best businesspeople also exude passion: for their own work, certainly, but also for their family, friends and the meaningful community causes that inspire them to give back. From his home base of Vancouver, Mr. Rand has used his profile and success to build a legacy of giving, particularly in secondary and post-secondary education. Today, we celebrate that legacy by awarding him an honorary degree.

Though he was born in Kamloops, British Columbia, and raised in Montreal, Mr. Rand has no shortage of Nova Scotia roots. His mother’s family is from Musquodoboit, and his father spent his childhood in Canning. While the young Mr. Rand stayed in Montreal for his first degree—a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill in 1963—he made his way east shortly thereafter, beginning studies in law at ±«Óãtv. While here at the university, he was an active participant in student government and represented ±«Óãtv students on our Board of Governors. He completed his law degree in 1966 and received a Masters of Law from the London School of Economics in 1967.

Mr. Rand articled in Halifax with the firm of Stewart, McKeen & Covert and was admitted to the bar here in Nova Scotia, but his career took him back west. He articled and then practised with Davis & Company, one of Vancouver’s largest law firms. He left to co-found his own firm—Rand, McLaughlin, Gorham & Tolmie, Barristers and Solicitors, which subsequently evolved into the firm of Rand Edgar & Sedun. The practice focused on corporate and securities law, advising Canadian and international investors and entrepreneurs wanting to take companies public in Canada. The firm also advised on public offerings, private placements, asset acquisitions, and dispositions and mergers. Mr. Rand practised continuously as a partner with the firm until his retirement from law in 1992.

At that time, he shifted direction somewhat and joined his partner Brian Edgar in forming the Rand Edgar Investment Corporation. The private corporation invests in early stage venture capital companies and is a major shareholder in a number of venture and investmentÌýÌý companies. Along with that work, Mr. Rand sits on the board of directors of over a dozen public companies including EComm Systems Corporation, Safeguard Biometric Corporation and a broad range of resource companies. He is also president of a real estate development and holding company with investments across Canada and in Washington State.

While his professional career has been a huge part of Mr. Rand’s life, his family -- wife Tracey and children Kathleen, Allison and Robert -- has been the core. This, in no small part, explains his philanthropic drive to support education. Both his daughters graduated from York House School, an independent school for girls in Vancouver. He and Tracey are leadership donors to the school and strong supporters of its athletics program; he also chaired the school’s board and its capital campaign. Mr. Rand also served on the Board of Governors at St. George’s School, where his son Robert attended.

Mr. Rand’s generosity extends into post-secondary education, as well. He has been invaluable to ±«Óãtv through his enthusiastic support of university fundraising efforts and his willingness to host alumni events. He has helped with student recruitment activities and has generously donated to the university for over 25 years. He served as an associate governor to the university for 12 years and presently sits on the ±«Óãtv Advisory Council. In recognition of his outstanding commitment to ±«Óãtv, he was awarded the President’s Circle Medal in 2010. Mr. Rand supports his other Canadian alma mater, as well: he is a former member of McGill’s president’s advisory council and served on the school’s capital campaign committee for British Columbia.

From time-to-time, Mr. Rand may occasionally be found swinging a golf club, doing a little fly-fishing, skiing or enjoying a fine glass of wine. Given his many commitments, however, the operative word there may be ‘occasionally.’

±«Óãtv is proud to count Mr. Rand among our alumni, and even more pleased that he has chosen to devote so much of his time and energy in giving back to this university and the cause of education more generally. For his commitment to career and to community, I ask you, Mr. Chancellor, in the name of the Senate, to bestow upon William Rand the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa).

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