Announcements

In Memoriam: Donald Rowat

ROWAT, Donald Cameron At the Ottawa General Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 at the age of 87. Son of the late William Andrew Rowat and Bertha Elizabeth Moore of Winchester, Ontario.

Predeceased by brothers John M. (Pearl) and Lloyd A. (late Leone), and a sister June R. McMaster (Rowland, John Harrison). Devoted husband and best friend of Frances Louise Coleman. Loving father of Linda, Augustina of Ottawa and Steven Coleman of Roberts Creek B.C.

Don was born in Somerset, Manitoba, and lived in Saskatchewan before moving to Winchester, where he attended school. A graduate of the University of Toronto (B.A.) and Columbia University (Ph.D.).  In his early years he was employed by the Federal Government.

His academic career included lecturing at North Texas State College, Denton, where he met his future wife, and at Dalhousie University, the Universities of British Columbia, California at Berkeley, and Carleton. Here he taught for over 40 years, from 1950 to 1992, retiring as Professor Emeritus of Political Science. He then spent 6 years on the Ontario Assessment Appeal Board adjudicating property tax appeals. Noted for his writings on comparative public administration, federal capitals, and university government, he traveled for his research to six continents.

Chiefly known for promoting the concept of the Ombudsman and the right of access to government information, he was made an honorary member of the United States Ombudsman Association, and received an award from the International Ombudsman Institute.

Early in his career, he was sent by the United Nations to Ethiopia to help set up a School of Public Administration, and later was appointed Co-Chairman of the Commission of the Relations Between Universities and Governments in Canada.

At Carleton, Professor Rowat served terms as Acting Director of the School of Public Administrator, Supervisor of Graduate Studies, and Chairman of his department, and member of the Executive Committee of Carleton Senate. He was elected President of the Canadian Political Science Association, Vice President of the Social Science Research Council of Canada, and Chairman of the Canadian Study of Parliament Group. He was also on the National Archives Advisory Council on Records and on the board of the Canadian and Ottawa Civil Liberties Associations.

Friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street on Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. Interment at Pinecrest Cemetery.

Instead of flowers, please send donations or a memorial scholarship to Development and Alumni, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, K1S 5B6 (613-520-3636) or at www.carleton.ca

Posted 01/05/09