OCAD University Chancellor Jaime Watt is the recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of being a leader, advocate and visionary who embodies the values of service and integrity.
The commemorative medal was created in honour of the coronation of King Charles III, honouring distinguished citizens from the Commonwealth.
Chancellor Watt (pictured at left) received the medal earlier this year at a presentation with Member of Provincial Parliament, the Hon. Todd McCarthy, minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (pictured centre) and former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, the Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell (pictured at right).
“Chancellor Watt is so deserving of this honour. Not only is he a long-time champion of both OCAD U and the arts and culture sector, but he has advocated and promoted equality and human rights issues. He has made such enormous contributions to making our city, our province and our country a better place,” says OCAD U President and Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano, who is also a recipient of the medal.
Widely regarded as Canada’s leading high stakes communications strategist, Chancellor Watt is executive chair of Navigator and a trusted advisor to boards of directors, business and professional leaders as well as political leaders at all three levels of government across Canada. He specializes in complex public strategy issues, serving both domestic and international clients in the corporate, professional services, not-for-profit, and government sectors.
An advocate of equality and human rights issues, he was instrumental in the growth of Casey House – Canada’s first AIDS hospital – and was a co-founder of the Canadian Human Rights Campaign and the Canadian Human Rights Trust. He has also worked with and supported Canadians for Equal Marriage, Rainbow Railroad, Rainbow Faith and Freedom, The 519 and Friends of Ruby, among many, many others.
He began his four-year-term as OCAD U’s chancellor in 2022, and prior to that, he provided exceptional leadership to OCAD U as Board chair for four years. Among his many accomplishments as Board chair, Chancellor Watt provided counsel to the institution in navigating the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic and worked closely with President Serrano and the management team to set the University on path towards financial sustainability.
