William George Gabriel Saywell (born 1936) is a Canadian historian. He is the former president and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University
Saywell was born in 1936 in Regina, Saskatchewan [1] to parents John Ferdinand Tupper Saywell and Vera Marguerite Saywell, alongside his elder brother John Saywell. [2] In 1937, the family moved to British Columbia as his father had received a job position to become Lake Cowichan first high school principal. [3] He attended the University of Toronto (U of T) for his Bachelor of Arts, Master's degree, and PhD. [4] While in his second year at U of T, Saywell enrolled in a course called "the Far East" which sparked his interest China and Japan. [5]
In 1970, once Canada and China established diplomatic relations, Saywell became the first "resident Sinologist" at Canada's embassy in Beijing. [6]
After earning his PhD, he joined the faculty of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto. [1] In 1983, Saywell was offered a position as president of Simon Fraser University. [7] [8] During his tenure as SFU's longest-serving president, he helped initiate the development of SFU's downtown Vancouver campus [9] and increased gender equality in SFU's hiring practices. [10] Upon the end of his term as president in 1993, Saywell was named president and chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Foundation. [11] The next year, he was named a Member of the Order of British Columbia. [12]
In 1999, Saywell was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. [13] A few years later, he joined the Board of Directors of Palcan Fuel Cells Ltd. [14] In 2009, Simon Fraser University formally named their new arts and social sciences complex Saywell Hall. [6]
William George Gabriel Saywell (born 1936) is a Canadian historian. He is the former president and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University
Saywell was born in 1936 in Regina, Saskatchewan [1] to parents John Ferdinand Tupper Saywell and Vera Marguerite Saywell, alongside his elder brother John Saywell. [2] In 1937, the family moved to British Columbia as his father had received a job position to become Lake Cowichan first high school principal. [3] He attended the University of Toronto (U of T) for his Bachelor of Arts, Master's degree, and PhD. [4] While in his second year at U of T, Saywell enrolled in a course called "the Far East" which sparked his interest China and Japan. [5]
In 1970, once Canada and China established diplomatic relations, Saywell became the first "resident Sinologist" at Canada's embassy in Beijing. [6]
After earning his PhD, he joined the faculty of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto. [1] In 1983, Saywell was offered a position as president of Simon Fraser University. [7] [8] During his tenure as SFU's longest-serving president, he helped initiate the development of SFU's downtown Vancouver campus [9] and increased gender equality in SFU's hiring practices. [10] Upon the end of his term as president in 1993, Saywell was named president and chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Foundation. [11] The next year, he was named a Member of the Order of British Columbia. [12]
In 1999, Saywell was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. [13] A few years later, he joined the Board of Directors of Palcan Fuel Cells Ltd. [14] In 2009, Simon Fraser University formally named their new arts and social sciences complex Saywell Hall. [6]