York Professor Emeritus Victor S. MacKinnon, who retired from active teaching in the Department of Administrative Studies in Atkinson College in 1994, has died.
Left: Victor S. MacKinnon in 1969
Professor MacKinnon died in the early morning hours of March 9 in Augusta, Maine. An accomplished academic and administrator, Prof. MacKinnon's successful tenure at Atkinson included not only teaching, but also positions as the director of the Division of Social Science, chair of the Department of Administrative Studies and master of Atkinson.
“He was a scholar and a gentleman. He made a remarkable contribution to the early years of our school as chair of the Department of Administrative Studies in the 1980s and early 1990s, and as master of Atkinson College towards the end of his time at York,” says Professor Paul Evans, director of the School of Administrative Studies in York's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. “He is remembered particularly for fostering the growth of programs and Atkinson College, introducing law courses and being very supportive of innovation.”
Prof. MacKinnon was also a prolific author, publishing on constitutional law, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and statutory reform. He wrote extensively in numerous scholarly journals and law reviews, and made an impact on a number of areas of scholarly and intellectual life in Canada and internationally.
In recognition of his contribution to the academy and to building York University, a commemorative scholarship was established in his name when he retired. A memorial is being planned for later this year. Members of the York community, including retired colleagues of Prof. MacKinnon, are invited to contact Evans at ext. 5677 or pevans@yorku.ca if they would like to participate in the memorial or to obtain information about memorial donations to the Victor S. MacKinnon Award.